AN enforcement firm operating on behalf of local authorities in the region has hit back following heavy criticism from the public and from councillors.

Kingdom Security currently operates in Conwy and Denbighshire – among 50 other council areas across the UK – and had been on trial in Anglesey until recently.

The company, which is based in Newton-le-Willows, has come under fire from protest groups – including the Facebook page, 'North Wales against Kingdom Security' – and from Denbighshire councillor Paul Penlington who has called on his authority to not extend its contract.

But a Kingdom spokesman, speaking exclusively to the the Pioneer, said the company was only operating according to the direction of the county councils.

“Kingdom is engaged to help councils in their efforts to reduce littering and to help create a cleaner and greener environment," the spokesman said.

“Kingdom helps with this primarily by deterring people from dropping litte, and last year carried out in the region of 600,000 hours of patrol time.

“Our efforts in North Wales, for example, have helped create some of the cleanest streets in Wales as reported by Keep Wales Tidy.

"We have also issued the highest level of dog fouling FPNs (fixed penalty notices) in Wales.

“Kingdom targets those who simply do not have any regard for the environment in which they live, work or visit, so that a more pleasant environment is created for those who do.” The spokesman said the criticism the company had received from the public was beginning to get out of hand and was one reason Kingdom had pulled out of the trial in Anglesey.

He said: “Part of the reason was difficulty our staff were receiving.

"Officers were getting grief and in some cases their personal safety was at risk.”

The spokesman said cameras and notepads had been stolen.

Ultimately, he said, the decision on whether to continue was up to councils who had hired the company.

The spokesman said Kingdom had never endured so much of a much backlash as it had received in North Wales.

He conceded that sometimes its officials had made mistakes, but said people had an issue with Kingdom because “nobody likes getting an FPN”.