New community protection officers ‘on the beat’

YOBS, litter louts and careless dog owners are being warned to watch out following the recruitment of new frontline officers to deal with anti-social behaviour and environmental crime.

The first two community protection officers have been recruited to support Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Cleaner, Safer and Greener campaign.

The new officers, the first of four, have a remit to crack down on groups and individuals who make life a misery or who spoil and rubbish the district.

They will have the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) on those who flout the law and will be working with the community to encourage a responsible approach to looking after the environment.

The council believes that, in addition to the focus on community litter picks and other initiatives, employing the new officers will increase public awareness of the issues, ensure effective enforcement and penalise those who break the law.   

Since the launch of the Cleaner, Safer and Greener campaign in July last year the council has issued a combined total of 53 enforcement notices and the recruitment of the new officers demonstrates a greater emphasis on enforcement action.

Specifically, the community protection officers will:    

• Tackle  the issues of street litter, littering from cars, low level anti-social behaviour and dog fouling, including issuing FPNs  

• Investigate flytips and ensure waste removal

• Enforce public spaces protection orders which deal with, for example,  street drinking, begging and  dog control

• Gather local intelligence to assist the council as a whole in its understanding of ‘place’.

The officers will spend the vast majority of their time in the community, working directly with the public, the police, residents, businesses, key partners and parish and town councils, and across all the council’s service areas.

District council leader Councillor David Lloyd said: “The council’s new community protection officers are a big part of our work in communities across Newark and Sherwood to promote the Cleaner, Safer and Greener agenda. 

“Our community protection officers are fully authorised to take the necessary action to penalise and punish those who cannot behave properly and who ignore the law.

“Newark and Sherwood is a great place to live and we want to keep it like that. We want to maintain a pleasant environment, keep our neighbourhoods safe so as to help promote well-being, happiness and productivity among our residents.”

Deputy leader Keith Girling said: “Our new community protection officers will provide reassurance to the vast majority of people in the district who are on the right side of the law. They will be our eyes and ears in helping to look after our law-abiding communities and will take the necessary and appropriate steps to deal with those intent on spoiling and disrespecting our environment.”

Making Newark and Sherwood Cleaner, Safer & Greener, a place we are all proud of.