YOU could never accuse communities secretary Eric Pickles of missing an opportunity to make headlines.

But his announcement that councils will be banned from using CCTV “spy cars” is not quite what it seems.

In fact, authorities will still be allowed to use their cars on “critical routes” such as bus lanes and around schools.

So this announcement may have the effect of focusing councils’ attention on the kind of dangerous behaviour at the school gates that the Daily Echo highlighted in our Parking Mad campaign several years ago. That would make the right kind of headlines.