Forum Topic

Hounslow’s Enforcement Officers

Has anyone had experience of the latest addition to social order in the new society being created for Chiswick residents by our betters in Hounslow? I have nothing personally  against the men and women who have been employed in this role but what are the limits of any interventions they can make and why do they not display identification measures, such as an officer number. Such a brave new world!

David Kerr ● 2143d8 Comments

Please refer to page 6 of this Forum - Safe? at last. which was the origin of this discussion.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2143d

Hounslow's enforcement officers, for highways etc. were all warranted, and that warrant was carried and also set out exactly what the officer was authorised to enforce, they also could carry out interviews under caution. Whether or not these new people are the same is another matter. Are they Hounslow employees or contractors ro what?

Vanessa Smith ● 2143d

Good question. I saw 2 last week, one looked vaguely officially dressed, the younger of the 2 was in a bomber jacket with 'enforcement' written on the back and wearing a hoodie, with the hood up.  I've no issue if there is additional resources to encourage safe behaviour during lock down (as well as pavement cyclists etc), but if they have a rent-a-cop element to them more akin to private parking contractors, then they can bore off!

Rob Reynolds ● 2143d

Similarly these 'traffic marshalls' who do not have any power at all but are employed by various outfits to 'direct' traffic going to or leaving events.

Vanessa Smith ● 2143d

This is not the case. The enforcement officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices and have been doing so in Chiswick recently.Julian Pavey reported elsewhere that one of them fined a minor which answered my question raised about their ability to do this. In my view this raises child protection issues because, as far as we know, these officers are not DBS checked.

Mark Evans ● 2142d

As mentioned on other posts, the ones I have seen in the High Rd have had no identifying clothing or badges whatsoever.The Enforcement teams, often in vans, are a different beast by being somewhat identifiable and have been around at least since Riverside Drive's double yellow lines when I first saw them from my allotment. They do issue PCNs.

Bob Guyett ● 2142d

I watched a group of 3 Enforcement Officers move on a young lady who was begging near to Robert Dyas. He was not wearing a mask.  I tackled him on this and he said he didn’t need to wear one. I’ve reported it to the Police on the special site, specifically for this offence.

Maggie Dodge ● 2142d

At this stage it looks like these enforcement officers are mainly giving guidance particularly on Covid security which would make them a good thing. If the council is resisting the temptation to make them another source of revenue then they deserve credit for introducing them.

Paul Corcoran ● 2139d