None of the allegations of sabotage and intimidation at Cityclean last year have yet resulted in criminal charges, with some lines of enquiry being closed because of a lack of evidence.
Reports of criminal damage, arson, threats and harassment were made to police during a period when Brighton and Hove City Council said bullying at the council’s waste service was at its height in 2023 and 2024.
The council said these incidents largely stopped in the second half of this year – but ramped up again this year after changes to how the service works began to be implemented in earnest.
One offence this year was in connection with compost that caught fire after a lorry defect meant it could not be tipped.
Meanwhile, the CPS dropped charges against a GMB rep who was charged with possession of an offensive weapon at the Hollingdean depot in January, which he had denied and was due to stand trial for.
Police say all the incidents reported to them remain under continual review and are being investigated as part of Operation Senate.
Chief Superintendent Rachel Carr, divisional commander for Brighton and Hove, said: “The matters that have been reported to us are of a very serious and concerning nature.
“We have ensured appropriate resource is in place to conduct thorough investigations into all reported incidents and would urge any witnesses or anyone with information relating to these matters to come forward.
“A previous statement issued by the force on this matter inaccurately implied that all investigations had concluded and we apologise for this and any distress caused.”
Council cabinet member Tim Rowkins said the council always remained open-minded about the cause of vehicle failures.
He also said there was now 24-hour security at the depot in case any more decomposing garden waste – and food waste, once those collections start in September – sparked more fires.
Councillor Rowkins said: “We always look at the cause of any incident to see what we can learn and make any necessary changes to our approach.
“Our policy is to tip garden waste on the day of collection. However, that is not always possible and, in those instances, waste is stored on the vehicles and tipped the next morning.
“This approach has of course been risk-assessed, and part of that assessment involves the site being monitored by security guards 24 hours a day. It was one of these colleagues who alerted the fire brigade.
“On this occasion, the vehicle had a defect, meaning it was not tipped while awaiting repair. We are investigating the cause of that defect.
“We also report any significant incidents to Sussex Police as part of its wider investigations and that was the case here. We will always remain open-minded regarding the causes of such incidents and will be led by the evidence.
“Our thanks, of course, go to the crew from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service who responded so promptly to the fire, and to our own staff who attended the incident.”
The fire broke out on the evening of 23 April this year, and the fire service were called at 11.17pm.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “One hose reel jet was used to put the fire out and a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots.
“The fire was accidental and linked to heat created by the natural decomposition of garden waste. There were no injuries.”
GMB rep Dave Russell, 63, of Shelldale Road, Portslade, was charged a year ago with possession of a sword with a 2ft-long blade in his office at the Hollingdean depot.
Russell, a martial arts instructor, denied the charge when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
Anyone with information relating to the police investigation is asked to report online or by calling 101 quoting Operation Senate. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Information can also be reported anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said that investigations into all reports made about incidents at Cityclean before 2025 had concluded, based on a Sussex Police statement. This was incorrect, and the story has been updated accordingly.
It’s all very odd tbh. If the council is so sure of sabotage and has handed the police ALL of its evidence, then it seems odd they can’t get charges to stick.
There’s clearly deep dysfunction at City Clean (or whatever they are trying to rename it to now), but it’s surprising that, according to this article) the police only seem to have been investigating issues reported to them about 2024 incidents and a more recent compost fire, rather than any of the incidents and issues specific to the KC report (or the 2019 report before that).
Looking at this article the only charge ever made was possession of a weapon against one individual and there has not been any charge made against anyone for the terrible bullying and harassment referred to in the KC report itself – something that it said had been going on for years and years and years (2017 at least if I remember correctly). Surely the council must have been able to pass some evidence of that to the police.
so lets Summarise.
Management keep ‘waffling on’ about some staff involvement in ‘sabotage’, yet the CPS have found no evidence to prosecute.
Sounds to me like the management owe the foot-soldiers an apology !
I don’t think it’s anything to do with the foot soldiers, except as they are harassed by the union which is particularly toxic, and in which Bella needs to come clean. Someone is obviously hiding something. Incidentally our bin collections in Patcham have been brilliant.
So another sign that management and council try to blame the crews and those that represent them for their failings and decision making.
Smells like they simply want to deunionize the council so they can get away with things.
Might be time a independent is going to investigate the KC report ties in the council
Did the saboteurs switch off all the CCTV cameras first? If not, why have they not been identified and punished?
If they knew how to switch off the CCTV cameras, that would narrow the suspect range too.
Yes, CCTV footage was reviewed as part of the investigation. Specifically, after incidents where wires on two bin lorries were reportedly cut to disable the vehicles, according to the BBC. This suggests that the CCTV footage did not provide clear or conclusive evidence identifying any individuals.
NO EVIDENCE OF SABOTAGE OR DEATH THREATS! Where are the apologies from management, politicians and previous comment makers. Hmm very quiet!