Binmen threatened with Samurai sword as cuts spark anger

BINMEN in Birmingham have been threatened with a Samurai sword in a row over refuse collection, it has been revealed.

A Freedom of Information request also revealed a city centre resident stole the keys to a bin lorry and threw his bin under its wheels. In Dudley a binman was head-butted after he refused to take rubbish over the allowed quota. Elsewhere, binmen have been pelted with rubbish for refusing to take it, while in the Wirral a crew was threatened with a gun.

Details emerged as figures revealed attacks on binmen across the UK had almost doubled in three years, rising from 159 in 2013 to 309 this year. In 2012, there were just 112 incidents. The sharp rise has been blamed on cuts to services as well as increasingly strict recycling rules which have led some councils to inspect bins for contamination.

There have also been road rage attacks as bin lorries block streets.

In Birmingham, bin services have been transformed with the introduction of wheelie bins and the £35-a-year charge for garden waste collection – but not everyone has been happy with the changes.

The council is currently installing cameras in bin lorries, which serve the double purpose of protecting staff and allowing bosses to settle disputes over missed collections.

The Local Government Association, which represents UK councils, said abuse was unacceptable attackers should be prosecuted.

A spokesman added: “The LGA’s polling shows more than eight in ten of the public are happy with the way their bins are collected.”

Others, such as local government trade union Unison, blamed cuts. and