Parents who drive dangerously to drop off and collect their children from school are to be tackled under council plans to deploy a “spy car” with an on-board camera.

Dartford council is preparing to consult residents on the use of “school safety patrols” which will tour schools in the borough during the morning and afternoon school-run hours.

Equipped with CCTV technology, the car will take photographs of parents who park or drive illegally and will have powers to fine those caught.

The government recently banned the use of so-called “spy cars” after claims they were being used as a “cash cow” by councils. However, it is still legal to use the cameras near schools, bus lanes, bus stops, and red routes.

Cllr Jeremy Kite, leader of the council, said: “I have accepted the case for photographic cars to be used for school patrols.

“I have taken this decision very carefully. I don’t like the way they have been used in other areas to catch people in town centres. I think what we need is human interaction for the most part ... the cars can damage the relationship between the authority and the driver.

“However, I have been persuaded of the case for their use outside schools.

“The problem of parking outside schools is absolutely appalling. Some drivers are putting kids’ lives at risk every single day. Nothing seems to matter to some parents apart from getting their kid to school. It’s like all common sense goes out the window.”

Cllr Kite added that the service will be of no cost to the council, apart from a “small set-up fee”, as it shall be ran by a contractor.

"The problem of parking outside schools is absolutely appalling. Some drivers are putting kids’ lives at risk every single day." - Jeremy Kite, council leader

Oakfield Community Primary School, in Oakfield Lane, Dartford, has limited parking facilities available for its 672 pupils – causing traffic mayhem on an almost daily basis.

Jason Pearn, head of school, said: “I am new to the area ... but in my short few weeks here I am surprised that someone hasn’t got hurt before.

“I often see people bumping up on paths and people have to walk around the cars, people parking on double yellow lines near the school, people causing congestion by stopping at traffic lights, and when it comes to things like this we don’t have any authority to stop them.”

Having seen first hand how reckless parents can park, Mr Pearn said he would support the use of so-called spy cars in Dartford. “I think something needs to be done. We do have a warden that comes round occasionally but it’s only once every three weeks or so.

“I would support the use of these cars. I understand that you can’t police it every day but we need something better than what we have at the moment.”

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson also supported the use of the vehicles. He said: "Anything that tackles persistent, selfish parking outside of schools is surely a good thing.

"I’ve lost count of the number of times I have seen irresponsible parking by parents outside schools. When my children were at primary school, one or two people used to repeatedly park on the zig-zag lines outside the school rather than walk an extra hundred yards to the school gates.

"It endangers other children and can cause traffic gridlock. The vast majority of parents park in a responsible manner but it only takes one or two selfish individuals to cause a problem for everyone so fining these people is a good idea."

If approved, patrols are expected to begin next year.