At Fenland District Council, there is a group of Street Scene Officers, their remit initially was to deal with Littering, Fly-Tipping and Abandoned vehicles, they were supplied with ‘electric bicycles’ (hardly ever used -Elf & Safety Issues) at over £1,000 each.
They were to cover each market town and work with local councils and community groups.
Over the past 10 years, their success has been somewhat scant to say the least – one or two having difficulties in how the law stands in conjunction with (PACE – Police and Criminal Evidence Act) and few offenders were ever taken successfully to court.
FDC then decided to trial ‘The Kingdom Group’™ a private organisation which Peterborough City Council employed with some success.
So we’re now told –
Private enforcement officers to continue operating in Fenland after ‘successful’ pilot
See article in Cambs Times© Click Here
I am somewhat confused, having met some of the Kingdom™ employee’s on their rare occasions they visit Whittlesey – (in a previous post – they asked me what was the best place to find people littering!) – They informed me that they were not employed on a Bonus Scheme – whereby the more they catch the more they are paid.
From reading the article it appears there is NO cost to the council (FDC) – so how do Kingdom™ manage to operate!
The enforcement has not only acted as a successful deterrent and helped keep our district cleaner at no extra cost to the council, but it has also raised awareness about littering and the harm it can cause to our environment.
I am very happy indeed if Kingdom™ catch more and more people who carry out anti-social environmental issues – but why then do we still have and pay for Street Scene Officers – and question – what-ever happened to their wonderful electric bikes….
Our appointed Street Scene Officer I must say is very helpful but only works part time.
I would have thought that if the ‘trialled’ success of Kingdom was so good – then the need for 5 or 6 Street Scene Officers was no longer needed?
I am first to support any initiative to bring offenders to be prosecuted – and would appear that The Kingdom Group have had a lot more success than our Street Scene Officers/FDC Legal Department.
