Kingdom started providing environmental protection services in London’s third largest borough, Ealing, on Wednesday 23rd September, on behalf of Ealing Council. In the first day alone Kingdom’s Environmental Protection officers issued over 150 Fixed Penalty Notices to people caught spoiling the west London borough’s streets and parks by dropping litter, dumping rubbish, spitting and allowing their dogs to foul the streets.
Kingdom is providing dedicated teams of uniformed officers in the borough, and will work with the council’s environmental enforcement officers to provide a high-profile deterrent and issue fines of £80. Kingdom is initially operating on a one-year trial basis, and is working at no cost to the council, instead taking a share of the fines issued.
Ealing Council’s tougher stance is the start of a wider, joined-up response to environmental crime in the borough which will see council teams working alongside police and members of the public to improve the environment and public spaces. Kingdom also provides environmental protection services to neighbouring Harrow Council, who work closely with Ealing Council. This means that persistent environmental problems which spill over the two borough’s boundaries can be the focus of a co-ordinated response that solves them once and for all.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure on Ealing Council, said: “We spend £4.5million each year cleaning up after people who feel it is ok to litter our streets with rubbish, chewing gum, spitting or dog mess. Ealing residents are sick of seeing it and paying to get it cleaned up through their taxes.
“The changes we are making will turn the tide against these selfish individuals who are committing these offences and deal with these on the spot penalty notices. By working together with residents, the police, contractors and partners, we want to improve the environment in our borough for everyone to enjoy.”
Residents of Ealing can report littering and dog fouling online at www.ealing.gov.uk/reportit
Commenting on the new contract, the Director of Kingdom’s Environmental Protection Division, Michael Fisher, said: “Kingdom are thrilled at the opportunity to work in partnership with Ealing Council and will use all our experience and skills to provide a service that will work towards the reduction of street litter and dog fouling, which currently blights this and many other areas within the UK”.
Kingdom’s Environmental Protection Division aims to make communities cleaner, safer and greener. Their specialist teams are led by experts with an ex-police and military background and deliver over 130,000 environmental protection hours per year on behalf of local authorities across the UK.
For more information about Kingdom’s Environmental Protection Division, please visit http://www.kingdom.co.uk/services/environmental-protection/ or call 0845 051 7700.