Croydon Council has taken firm action against an unauthorised car trader operating in South Norwood, following a series of complaints from local residents. Enforcement officers from the council intervened after the trader was found to be using public roads to sell second-hand vehicles without the necessary licence.
The issue came to light when residents in South Norwood Hill and nearby streets reported difficulty finding parking spaces. The complaints pointed to several vehicles parked persistently in the same locations, often with visible ‘for sale’ signs.
After issuing multiple warnings to the individual involved, council officers ultimately seized two of the cars being sold. One of the vehicles has since been crushed, and the council has confirmed that further offences could lead to prosecution.
Under the law, it is illegal to sell vehicles on the public highway without a valid street trading licence. Croydon Council does not support or permit vehicle trading on its roads and considers it a form of antisocial behaviour.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said the council acted decisively after giving the trader several opportunities to comply: “We’re committed to tackling all forms of antisocial behaviour that disrupt our communities. Residents shouldn’t have to compete for parking spaces near their homes because of illegal trading activity. The seller was warned repeatedly but chose to ignore the rules, which is why we seized his vehicles and destroyed one.
“This sends a clear message: if you flout the law in Croydon, we will take action. We encourage anyone facing similar issues to report them so we can step in.”
The council has urged residents to report antisocial behaviour and illegal street trading via the Love Clean Streets app, which allows users to log incidents directly from their smartphones.
Croydon’s crackdown forms part of a broader effort to keep public spaces accessible, safe, and fairly used by all residents. Enforcement teams will continue to monitor areas where illegal car sales are suspected.
