Yesterday I was walking to work in a major (non-London) UK city.
I passed by a scene in which a guy dressed (albeit scruffily) in official-looking clothes with a hat marked “Enforcement Officer” was accusing a passer by of littering.
I didn’t see what led up to it, and it’s entirely possible that the other person had littered.
The enforcement officer had a card reader in his hand and was telling the person that they had to pay a fixed penalty on the spot or else they would be prosecuted.
I thought that council officials couldn’t issue penalties that are “payable immediately”
but rather to issue a ticket with details of how to pay or appeal.
Did I witness a scam or is this now a thing?
On other occasions I’ve also witnessed “enforcement officers” arguing with people refusing to give their details, asking for ID and saying “then you will have to wait here while I call the Police”.
Is there a change in the law? I thought there was only an obligation to
give your details to a proper police officer and that a council employee has no right to make someone wait or hand over their details.
Am I wrong?