The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is the latest place to take the Kingdom Environmental Protection contract service. Kirklees council is based in Huddersfield and includes Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite.
Starting from April 2017, Kingdom, an ACS Pacesetters company, will be working across the district, tackling littering (including dropping cigarette ends and chewing gum), dog fouling and other offences, including the selling or repairing of multiple vehicles on the highway, distributing and displaying flyers and posters without permission, and not having a dog on a lead where required.
The officers start a 12-month trial in April, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to anyone caught carrying out the offences above. Kingdom’s officers will be wearing real time body cameras as they patrol.
Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement Management, Councillor Naheed Mather, said: “We have really considered the risks and benefits of involving a private company but feel the time is now right to take this next trial step. We do not have the numbers of staff that can cover the district ourselves, but the company will choose when and where to go and they will issue the notices.”
