Refuse collectors under threat

TOWN Hall bosses have been forced to send out 2,000 letters to homeowners after receiving complaints refuse collectors were being threatened with verbal and physical abuse.

The letters, sent to residents in the Gainsborough area by Ipswich Borough Council, warned it was a criminal offence to threaten anyone with verbal and physical abuse and said offenders would be prosecuted.

It followed complaints from council staff working in the Gainsborough area who claimed to have experienced threats from residents who wanted them to remove their side waste as well as their bins.

Since July last year the council has changed its policy on waste removal to exclude the rubbish bags (side waste) which are placed alongside wheelie bins when they are full.

But some residents have been left disgruntled by the change, it has been claimed, and have threatened refuse collectors when they did not take away side rubbish.

The letter said: "Unfortunately, crews are experiencing verbal and threatened physical abuse from some members of the public when they refuse to clear excess waste or to empty bins where the lids are wedges open.

"Verbal or physical abuse to other persons if a criminal offence and any reported incidents will be treated seriously and legal action will be taken."

It is the first time the council has been forced to send out letters to stop people from threatening refuse collectors.

A council spokeswoman said: "We have a policy where we don't pick up side waste. Some people were being abusive to the men, asking why they hadn't taken it away.

"When we changed the rules about side waste, we did let everybody know, but some people think it's their rubbish and it must be taken away."

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