ENFORCERS hired by a council to crack down on littering have been accused of ambushing locals.
The black-clad squads are said to hide in doorways and lurk behind bushes ready to pounce.
Those caught dropping rubbish have been hit with £80 on-the-spot fines[/caption]
The black-clad employees are understood to hide in doorways and behind bushes[/caption]
Litter wardens have been accused of “preying on the vulnerable”[/caption]
And people in Aberdeen say Welsh-based National Enforcement Solutions wardens are “preying on the vulnerable”.
It is claimed they hit a woman in her 80s with an £80 fine after a piece of paper accidentally fell out of her pocket at a bus stop.
NES have been at the centre of controversy in England, where its staff fined a woman for scattering bread for ducks.
Josie Appleton, of civil liberties group Manifesto Club, said: “In every area, they have been associated with the same shady and pushy behaviour such as hiding behind bushes, trailing people, fining for things dropped by accident and threatening people into paying up.
“Residents of Aberdeen should keep a close eye on these officers and publicise any cases of abuse.”
Cash-strapped Aberdeen council hiked council tax by 9.85 per cent — the largest increase of any Scots city.
But the council snubbed a question about how much it is paying the firm.
Wardens patrol seven days a week, with their outfits bearing council logos, ID badges and cameras to record every encounter.
People fined are given a printed document and told how many days they have to pay.
And they risk being hauled into court if they fail to cough up.
It comes after the council issued just nine fines for littering from 2021 to 2023 — none of which were paid.
Former soldier Maurice Harvey, 73, who received an £80 fine, said: “I’m a war veteran. I don’t like being hassled like this.
“I accidentally dropped a cigarette and they were right on me.
“They appeared out of nowhere. It’s harassment.” Norma Courtley, 69, was stunned when a warden followed her into M&S after she dropped a cigarette butt.
She said: “It’s pretty intimidating and I was a bit shaken up by it.
“Why couldn’t they give a warning the first time? £80 is a lot for a pensioner.”
Hospitality manager Rob McIntosh, 36, stamped on his cigarette as an officer suddenly appeared beside him.
He said: “My foot was still on it. He didn’t even give me a chance to pick it up.
“I get that they’ve got a zero tolerance policy but there are no bins. It ruined my day. I’m not paying it.”
In contracts with English councils, NES gets to keep 70 per cent of the cash raised by fines.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “We continuously assess the performance of partners, including NES, through rigorous quality assurance checks.
“These checks include reviewing interactions between officers and the public, as captured on body worn video.”
