Council condemns attacks on bin workers

The council said two men punched and kicked workers collecting the recycling

A council has condemned two separate attacks on refuse collectors as "shameful".

Epping Forest District Council said on 20 December in the village of Chigwell Row, a resident attacked two staff after a rubbish spill - even though they were trying to clear it up.

On 15 January in Nazeing, two men punched and kicked a worker because their road was blocked by the bin crew, the council said.

"Attacks on our council or council-owned company staff are totally unacceptable," said Ray Balcome, a Conservative councillor with a responsibility for refuse and recycling.

'Selfish motorists'

Balcome commended the refuse crews, who he said did a physically demanding job.

"It can also be dangerous, even before the selfish intervention of impatient motorists who care more about being two minutes late than potentially putting someone in hospital.

"There will always be occasional spillages, missed collections, and temporary hold-ups to motorists, but there is never an excuse for violent or abusive behaviour," he added.

The council said the worker who was punched and kicked in Nazeing suffered a black eye, swelling to the face, bruising and cuts to their back and ribs.

The two workers attacked in Chigwell Row were not injured, but one of their mobile phones was smashed.

A council spokesperson said every bin lorry had a 360-degree CCTV camera.

The council did not say whether the incidents had been reported to police.