People who drop litter and fly-tip are being warned about new litter enforcement officers who will be out on the streets, in parks and public spaces of Bath and North East Somerset from next week.
From Thursday March 7th, litter and dog fouling enforcement officers will work across Bath and North East Somerset and will issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people who deliberately litter streets, parks and public places.
The move follows the award late last year of an Environmental Crime and Enforcement contract to company 3GS.
As well as enforcement 3GS uniformed officers will prioritise education and prevention to help people understand that littering is a criminal offence and will not be accepted in Bath and North East Somerset.
Under the 12-month agreement, which is at zero cost to the council, 3GS enforcement officers will work between 7am to 7pm seven days a week.
It is operating a fixed fee model, which limits what 3GS can earn from the enforcement contract. Any funds received above cost will be passed on to the council or used by 3GS for education and promotional purposes.
3GS, working in collaboration with the council, will invest in a promotional campaigns such as billboard advertising to promote good conduct and warn of the implications of littering.
3GS runs reward schemes for good practice to members of the public who are observed to have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of keeping Bath and North East Somerset a clean and tidy place to live.
Councillor Bob Goodman said: “The contract starts from Friday March 1 when officers will undergo training ahead of taking up their duties on the streets, in the parks and public spaces of Bath and North East Somerset the end of next week.
“We have been assured by 3GS that the enforcement officers will be proportionate in the way they go about their work, however our message is simply please don’t drop litter and dump waste otherwise you risk a hefty Fixed Penalty Fine. We all have a responsibility to protect our environment.”
Martin Jerrold, 3GS managing director, said: “3GS acts as a proportionate enforcer, meaning that fixed penalty notices (FPN’s) are issued based on need. Our aim is to reduce environmental crime for the long-term; and our enforcement officers will patrol and issue FPN’s to reduce street offences such as littering and dog-fouling.
“We will promote positive anti-littering campaigns throughout the community highlighting the threat, harm and risk of littering to remind people about the penalty it attracts for doing so.”
Last July the council adopted the maximum £150 Fixed Penalty Notice FPN for dropping litter, including cigarette ends and people, caught on camera, throwing litter from vehicles. Anyone caught fly-tipping in the area can be issued with a FPN up to £400.
