The bin in Mansfield Road

A NEW bin-bag police company with staff roaming streets with body-worn cameras has come under fire from an estate’s tenants’ and residents’ association who say they are targeting honest recyclers with heavy-handed tactics.

Kingdom Services Ltd is running a pilot scheme with Camden Council until February as part of a crackdown on fly-tippers.

Last week the New Journal reported how a woman was given a £400 on-the-spot fine after she left two cardboard boxes next to a full recycling bin in Grafton Way, Gospel Oak, on the morning of the collection.

Burly officers had come into her communal block and filmed her at her door as they dished out the fixed penalty notice. This week they targeted a tenant who had left one cardboard box next to a full recycling bin in Mansfield Road.

He received a letter about a “suspected illegal waste dump” that threatened: “You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which later rely on in court.”

Brad Hepburn, chair of the Waxham and Ludham estate in Gospel Oak, said: “We very much support the targeting of fly tipping. People from outside the estate are constantly using our bins that are always full as a result. But if there are boxes to be recycled left next to an overflowing bin, that is not people willfully trying to fly tip.

“It looks like the company is trying to make money off tenants who are trying to do the right thing. It’s just outrageous.”

Mr Hepburn, who has lived on the estate for more than 30 years, said that the “common sense approach” would have been for the council to contact the tenants’ and residents’ association and ask where the problems lay, adding: “So far they have caused a lot of damage to the reputation of the council.”

There are 185 homes in Waxham and just four recycling bins, Mr Hepburn said, adding: “It’s infuriating. Fly-tipping has been increasing. I think everyone has been doing DIY in the pandemic. We regularly complain about people dumping furniture and chairs, builders’ materials. We send them a zillion photographs and this is the response?”

The man who got the fine this week had left a box with his name on it by the bin. It was the same mistake that led to Dr Amy Lai getting her ticket in Grafton Way last week.

Her ticket was cancelled on a technicality. She said the council was “laughing” if it thought it could get away with fining people for not being able to put recycling in full bins. Wanton fly-tipping was a major issue going into the council elections in May with Labour promising to crack down on the problems.

In a letter to the New Journal this week, Joyce Glasser said: “Let’s give Kingdom Services a chance to fine selfish and lazy people who make our lives and streets miserable. If they prove to be rubbish, let Camden Council replace them.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said the fixed penalty notice had not been issued after investigation found it was “not a flytip”, adding: “However, Camden Council will carry out enforcement against anyone who does dump waste illegally in Camden. Flytipping can have a hugely negative impact on a neighbourhood, and it is up to everyone to take responsibility for their own waste.”

Kingdom Services Ltd who were approached for their comment last week and again this week have so far not responded.