WISE solutions introduced to tackle fly tipping and littering in the borough
A new team of uniformed environmental enforcement officers is out on patrol across the Royal Borough of Kingston to help keep the streets and riverside clean and pleasant for residents and visitors.
Kingston Council has appointed Waste Investigations, Support and Enforcement Ltd, known as WISE, to operate its Environmental Enforcement and River Mooring Management contract.
WISE started operating in the borough from 1 July 2024 and has previously worked with the council to tackle fly tipping.
You might have already spotted WISE officers in the borough, patrolling town centres, as well as along the riverside and known flytipping hotspots. Their role is to investigate incidents of fly tipping, commercial waste offences and littering, as well as some highways enforcement and street trading offences. WISE officers are also helping to manage the council's moorings and will be a uniformed presence along the riverside.
All WISE officers wear uniforms and carry identification, making them easy to spot and identify. If they witness any offences that pass the high evidence threshold, officers are authorised to issue on the spot penalty charges.
If an officer spots a potential offence they will introduce themselves, show their ID and explain why they are talking to the individual. If they have evidence that an offence has been committed they may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. The amount will depend on the offence; either £150 for littering, £400 for fly tipping or £300 if a business doesn't have adequate waste disposal arrangements.
The officers will also be enforcing other highway and environmental crime offences that can be dealt with by a penalty notice. All fixed penalty notices will have details of how to appeal as well as how to pay, and a reference number in case people wish to contact the council.
For most offences, there will be a reduction in penalty amount for prompt payment.