Most weeks a refuse worker in County Durham is verbally or physically abused by a member of the public who takes exception to them doing their job.

Now refuse crews, council bosses, trade unions and police have teamed up to highlight concerns over the abuse, violence and reckless driving that endangers both staff and the public.

Campaigners say that while 250,000 bins are collected every week without issue, there is a low but growing number of cases of staff being harassed or assaulted.

Some have had near misses when impatient motorists have driven along pavements to get round a bin wagon they feel is in their way.

 

And others have faced abuse from people angered by binmen pulling bins between cars, turning up at a different time to usual or not emptying a contaminated bin.

 

Launching the new respect campaign, Durham County Council released footage captured on CCTV fitted to the vehicles to graphically illustrate just some of what they face.

Oliver Sherratt, head of direct services at the council, said: “The vast majority of our residents know that the bin crews have a demanding job, working in all weathers, providing a valued service and like me are shocked and appalled to see the footage of assaults and near misses.

“Whilst the overall number of incidents are low, they are completely inexcusable, and not only endanger our crews, but can also impact on wider community safety too. The near misses from vehicles driving on pavements around a refuse wagon might just as easy hit a child as a crew member. It has to stop, and we will take action to prosecute where appropriate.”

He said staff are encouraged to report incidents, tell culprits they could be caught on CCTV and advised how to diffuse a heated situation.

The council, Durham Police and the Unison, Unite and GMB trade unions have all backed the campaign, which follows 24 serious incidents in the last year. A few years ago one binman was attacked with a baseball bat.

Chief Inspector Lee Blakelock said: “An assault on anybody is not acceptable. People carrying out their daily work should be able to do so without the fear of violence. We will work together with the council to tackle assaults on their staff and wholeheartedly support their campaign to keep their employees safe.”

GMB regional organiser Micky Hopper said: “Over the last year we’ve had a number of incidents where drivers and crews have been assaulted or abused and that can’t be right. People have the right to be protected while they work and it is well worth supporting any cause that helps to keeps workers safe.”