Device for locking a vehicle seat

A device for locking a vehicle seat comprises a locking pawl which may be pivoted about a first pivot between a closed position in which it engages a fitting part and an open position free of the fitting part. A locking element pivots about a second pivot axis to lock the pawl in its closed position by engagement of a first bearing surface of the locking element with a second bearing surface of the locking pawl. The locking element may further be pivoted about a third pivot axis to move it into a clamping position in which the locking element comes to bear with a first bearing point against the second bearing surface and comes to bear with a second bearing point spaced apart from the first bearing point against a third bearing surface of the locking pawl.