I have been annoyed and irritated by these unprofessional looking 'characters' for a long time now.
But today, I saw them in action again, and I am incensed!
Don't get me wrong, I don't like litter, or selfish people causing litter, but there are some real serious issues associated with these people who are employed to prevent it.
I saw 2 very young girls on the pier, (perhaps 18 years), and they were sharing a cigarette on a bench.
The scruffy looking ''officers'' were poised like predators on the bench opposite.
As soon as one girl flicked the cig butt into the sea, they pounced... and immediately hit them BOTH with a £75 fixed fine.
They didn't look like they would ever have the means to pay this amount.
A number of issues sprang to my mind.
1, There was no bins anywhere near the girls, for them to use.
2, There are no signs on the pier to say ''no smoking' .... though I think there should be,
3, There are NO WARNING signs, anywhere (that I have seen), which says there is a £75 fine for those causing litter, or at least not prominently displayed.
4, There was no 'let off, or first warning' for these girls, it is obviously therefore a money making scam.
5, These ''officers'' look like scruffy youths, certain not professional or official looking.... why should they be taken seriously?
6, Taking the personal details of 'young girls' is questionable at any time in this day and age.... how do we know that other 'unscrupulous' types might copy this, in order to get peoples details.
I could go on and on.... and I have said that I do not want litter, but there MUST be a better way of policing it than this???