New Eco-Enforcement Team For Chiswick

Designated neighbourhood team will make sure area is kept clean

Chiswick is to get one of Hounslow Council's new 'enforcement teams' who will be responsible for making sure that laws relating to litter, flytipping and refuse disposal are kept.

The new “Neighbourhood Enforcement” was welcomed by Chiswick councillors following the briefing by Council Officers last week at the Chiswick Area Forum.

The new team which was formed in November, is described as a “major change in enforcement” and combines a more joined up approach, working alongside Hounslow Highways, Police and Estate Wardens. They will have powers to issue fines for people who “spit, drop litter, fly tip or let their dogs foul in public spaces”. In addition, sharing of intelligence by use of dashboard technology (often used by Police) is expected go a long way to identifying environmental crime hotspots and more targeted action.

Gerry McCarthy of Hounslow Council, told the Chiswick Area Forum that enforcement had been restructured by the Council and the teams would be responsible for a number of issues ranging from anti-social behaviour, to flytipping and litter, issues that came within the area of environmental crime.

They would be stepping up uniformed patrols as Neighbournhood Enforcement Teams, working with Hounslow Highways and the police, and using intelligence from local people and street sweeping teams to identify areas of concern. There would also be the option of using mobile cctv cameras.

They were aware of the problem of residents in flats over shops not putting out their refuse correctly and this was an area they would concentrate on. One of the problems was that this was a transient population. on Chiswick High Road there had been success from the recent campaign to ensure all shops had contracts with waste collectors in place.

Other enforcement teams in Feltham and Heston have been keeping a watch on litter in people's gardens. Using powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act (2014), the team are undertaking foot patrols across the borough to identify properties and private land where rubbish has been collected and stored in front gardens.

Items discovered have included mattresses, old bed bases and broken furniture; tyres; building waste and white goods such as fridges, cookers and washing machines.

When they come across a rubbish-ridden front garden or private land, the householder is issued with a Community Protection Warning (CPW) letter which requires them to clear the waste within 14 days. If the rubbish is cleared no further action is taken.

Commenting on the introduction of the Enforcement Team for Chiswick, the Vice Chair of the Chiswick Area Forum Councillor Gerald McGregor said, “This new team will go a long way in helping support our Police, Estate Wardens and Council in targeting better the everyday enviro-crimes. Each area forum from the West to Central Hounslow and Brentford to Chiswick, shall have its own dedicated area enforcement team and report back twice yearly about their work and progress”.

Already, the initiative has issued 302 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) Borough wide from mid-December to the end of last year. The New Year has so far seen 410 FPNs issued across Hounslow up until the end of January and 193 in the month of February.

Currently, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) already have the powers to issue FPNs for example, cycling on the pavement, dog fouling, littering and graffiti.

Your local Neighbourhood Enforcement Contacts are:

• Anthony Robinson – Chiswick Team Leader: 0208 583 5182 or Mobile: 07976 357 468
• Robert Moran – Senior Enforcement Officer: 0208 583 5064 or Mobile: 07851 290 249
• Councillor Gerald McGregor – Vice Chair of Chiswick Area Forum: 07866 784 821

March 11, 2016