Are wardens ‘stalking smokers for quick buck’?
ACONCERNED Llandudno citizen claims a private firm tasked with catching litterbugs and irresponsible dog owners is stalking smokers for a quick buck.
John Hobson has taken on the role of vigilante to track the wardens and film them working around the town, such is his concern.
Kingdom Security had the contract to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for littering and dog fouling renewed with Conwy County Council last year.
“I am all for litter wardens but they are just watching smokers,” he told the Weekly News.
“I have been telling people they are being watched and the wardens don’t seem to mind but they didn’t like the fact I was taking pictures.
“They told me it was illegal, but it isn’t.”
Wardens are able to film interactions with members of the public under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act ( RIPA), originally passed as anti-terrorism legislation.
Although Kingdom Security’s officers have no power of arrest or deten- tion, they can issue fixed penalty notices and can film suspects with video cameras.
John says officers also have pouches they can give to smokers to put cigarette ends in but do not distribute them.
“One guy was putting his cigarette ends in his pocket and he showed me a pouch he was given by the wardens,” he explained.
“Another officer told me the pouch is only given to those who make an effort.
“It is not given to those who drop cigarettes.
“With smokers, if they gave them a warning and gave them a pouch it would be better. It’s all about making money.”
John says dog fouling is still a problem in the town and an issue Kingdom were meant to deal with.
“I’ve seen someone fined for dropping a cigarette butt down a drain but dog fouling, they don’t do anything about it.”
John runs a company which teaches bushcraft to scouts, operating a policy of leave no trace.
“It’s about leaving nature as it was - just don’t leave a mess,” he said.
He says he loves Llandudno and believes wardens are not following the spirit of their contract.
“It’s not about stopping the public dropping litter or letting their dogs foul the pavements. It’s about money and if anything it’s damaging Llandudno.”
Kingdom Security is paid £45 for every FPN and is paid promptly for each one issued, regardless of whether the council receives payment.
A survey by Conwy County Council last year said 91.3 per cent of respondents supported or fully supported them taking a tough stance on littering and dog fouling.
We asked for some comments on the council’s policy towards the warden’s role and received this reply: “Littering and dog fouling are amongst the top five complaints made to the council by residents. Litter is a blight on our beautiful area and not disposing of dog fouling properly is unacceptable; both offences are taken very seriously by the council. Littering and dog fouling is anti-social and illegal. We have a robust enforcement system in place, with Enforcement Officers patrolling areas known to be problem hotspots and issuing Fixed Penalty Fines to anyone caught breaking the law.
“(Wardens) would normally wear agreed dress code, which is black trousers, blue shirt with tie and a black jacket. However, there are instances when plain clothes are used, with the agreement of council officers, mainly for detecting dog fouling offences.”