A new contract for enforcement officers, preventing anti-social behaviour in Bedford, has been awarded to District Enforcement Ltd and has been welcomed by councillors representing the town centre.
From today (Monday), they will replace LA Support, who had held the contract to enforce town centre rules and issue Fixed Penalty Notices for environmental offences including littering, spitting and cycling through the town centre.
The officers will have the power to enforce and issue fines to people seen littering, spitting, cycling through the pedestrianised area during the day, allowing their dog to foul and not clearing it up, and other dog control issues.
“Green councillors welcome the replacement of LA Support in enforcing Bedford’s littering ban,” said Cllr Lucy Bywater who represents the town centre.
“We hope that the new enforcement company will end the over-zealous enforcement that has seen people given fines who never should have been and even led to people deciding to never go back to our town centre.
“At times in recent years LA Support officers have intimidated people and left them in tears. This was unacceptable behaviour that should end with the change of contract.
“I worry, though, that even under this new contract, staff will have targets and incentives to issue penalties that will be more important in their minds than reasonableness, compassion, or what is best for the town.”
Read: Round-the-world cyclist, Josh Quigley fined in Bedford town centre
Cllr Ben Foley said, “Cllr Royden claims the council ‘will continue to enforce against anyone who is seen ‘endangering pedestrians in the town centre’.
“Presumably this is his way of describing the ban on cycling in the town centre, but the truth has been that many cyclists who in no way were endangering pedestrians have been given fines in recent years.
“Equally those who truly were cycling dangerously were left untouched by LA Support staff who couldn’t stop them. I very much hope this will change, and that the new contractors will be instructed to only enforce against people whose cycling does endanger.”
Not only will the enforcement personnel change, but they will also look different to the previous officers in a new dark blue uniform.
Cllr Charles Royden, portfolio holder for environment said, “I received countless complaints of anti-social behaviour by individuals in our town centre and in open spaces across the Borough.
“So, following consultation, we introduced Public Space Protection Orders which gave us the powers to issue fines to tackle these anti-social behaviours, as well as against people littering.
“We want Bedford Borough to continue to be a safe, welcoming and clean place to live, work and visit.
“Unfortunately, there are a minority of people who do not do their bit and that is not acceptable. We will continue to enforce against anyone who is seen dropping litter, endangering pedestrians in the town centre, and not controlling and cleaning up after their dog in a responsible way.
“The Council will continue to work with our contractors, ensuring that they operate in a fair, transparent and thorough way- tackling offences where they are seen, and providing a valuable service to local residents.”
Colin Buchanan, Head of Operations for District Enforcement Ltd said, “District Enforcement is excited to be working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and play our part in keeping such a beautiful borough clean, tidy and safe.
“I am confident with our dedicated team of officers, who will on a daily basis, patrol the whole borough of Bedford, we will see a behaviour change within the borough.”
Town centre enforcement officers are self-funded, at no cost to the council or taxpayer.
