Environmental crime enforcement officers trying to clampdown on litter bugs have been criticised by councillors in Tenby for bugging members of the public in an ‘aggressive’ and heavy-handed manner when they approach them to hand out fines.

Officers who work for the ‘District Enforcement’ company in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council to patrol the streets focusing on key problem areas across the county, with the ability to issue on the spot fixed penalty notices to anyone caught littering, fly-posting, and not picking up after their dog, have come under fire from other communities for the way they approach anyone allegedly offending, since the initiative started last year.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby town council, Clr. Mrs. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall told her colleagues that the ‘harsh’ approach that these enforcement officers adopted was not doing the town any favours, and could put people off visiting.

“I personally saw one of them waiting and watching a six-year-old boy whilst his parents were looking in a gift shop window. It was very intimidating the this officer stood there with his arms folded, and I didn’t like it.

“I think more signage is needed around the town and on bins warning people that on the spot fines are enforceable.

“I understand that it’s not just Pembrokeshire that has had an issue with the way these officers approach matters - it is a nationwide issue.

“I’m very much in favour of what they’re trying to achieve - just not in the way that they’re doing it,” she continued.

Clr. Matthew Ronowitz told his colleagues that he and the town clerk had witnessed an incident in the town that week where someone he knew was left ‘shaking’ from having an argument with one of the officers after sticking up for someone who had been approached by them.

“This person it appears had put a cigarette on top of a box on their own property it would seem. This officer was telling her that she would be arrested if she didn’t accept the fixed penalty notice. He wouldn’t show her his badge, and it got quite nasty in the end.

“I can see why they’re needed, but it would be better if they were around to educate people more and advise them to put their cigarette ends in the bins, not stand around watching and waiting for them to drop something before they pounce, or hiding around corners and following people up the street,” he remarked.

The Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Tony Brown said that he didn’t agree with the enforcement officers’ methods either in following people around and ‘randomly targeting’ members of the public, but did say that on the spot fines were acceptable.

“If you litter in Tenby then you should be fined, and not just given a slap on the wrists. You wouldn’t do it in your own garden or front room would you!” he said, with his colleague Clr. Trevor Hallett agreeing.

“People ignore signage - you’ve got to be harsh some times to make it work, and use shock tactics,” he commented.

Clr.Paul Rapi agreed that there was no need for the enforcement officers to act so ‘aggressively’ when approaching people.

“It seems to me that they really need better training. I’ve been approached by several locals who feel they have been harassed and followed around by these enforcement officers, so it’s not just the holidaymakers that are being targeted. If I had a child with me and one of them was following me up the street, I’d be worried about the way they approach things.

“I’d write to PCC and state that a more softly, softly approach is needed.

“It’s a worry that they’ll also be taking charge of the dog beach ban rule as well, if they carry on acting like this, as the signage on the beaches just isn’t big enough.

“The right information is not given out in general, and there should be clearer signage about littering, and each licensed premises should take responsibility for this too, as the majority of people caught dropping cigarettes are outside the pubs,” added Clr. Rapi.