Forum Topic

APCOA Takes Over Local Boroughs' Litter Patrols

News item on this site.This could herald an improvement.  I'd like to know whether their contract includes residential streets and will they be reporting fly tipping and excessive littering?Any further info on this Councillor Guy?

Andy Herrick ● 253d6 Comments

"The Council have also just entered into a new street based enforcement contract with APCOA (replacing Kingdom/Local Authority Support) who not only will continue for litter related enforcement in our town centres and near transport hubs, they will also, in evenings and weekends, carry out fly tipping investigations themselves." So where does this 'enforcement' fit with the council's own enforcement team?

Vanessa Smith ● 249d

Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu is the lead member. I think Elliot Brooks is the head of service. You could approach either of them @hounslow.gov.uk or through your ward councillors

Guy Lambert ● 249d

Correct me if I am wrong but these people have no power of arrest, if you are ever approached by them do not engage with them, walk away and keep on walking.

Ben Halloren ● 250d

Contracts like this need to be carefully managed. The low-paid staff who work for civil enforcement agencies are understandably reluctant to challenge anyone who might do them harm but they are incentivised to issue fines. They may not have formal targets but it is made clear to them they are sacked if they aren't deemed to be productive enough. This combines to mean that fines are most often given to soft targets such as the elderly and lone women for relatively minor or highly debatable offences rather than the most egregious offenders. It would be good to see a 'warn and report' approach rather than a revenue driven one.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 250d

Thanks Guy.  Can you suggest a contact to approach to ask for a copy of the service specification parts of the APCOA contract.

Andy Herrick ● 251d

I don't know much but I believe they are taking over the previous contract delivered by Kingdom. That was never my responsibility and I never thought they were much use, except pursuing people dropping fag ends near stations. In fact the only case work I had with them was someone who has never smoked in her life being penalised for dropping a fag end opposite McDonalds. We got that dropped and I believe the operator involved was to seek new employment.I just had an email from the officer who leads on management of Hounslow Highways:"The Council have also just entered into a new street based enforcement contract with APCOA (replacing Kingdom/Local Authority Support) who not only will continue for litter related enforcement in our town centres and near transport hubs, they will also, in evenings and weekends, carry out fly tipping investigations themselves." We also have a somewhat reinforced Special Waste Service team but I think we should have more of these - we know they are effective.

Guy Lambert ● 253d