The council has reported more criminal behaviour at a “toxic” bin depot where employees were subjected to harassment and abuse. Brighton and Hove City Council has shared that further incidents are now being investigated by Sussex Police after an independent report last year revealed a culture of abuse at Cityclean’s Hollingdean depot, Brighton. Recent incidents include managers at Cityclean having their tyres slashed and direct threats of serious harm being made to staff and their families, the council said.
The council has reported incidents to the police, they said. The 17-page report on the council’s waste service by King’s Counsel Aileen McColgan was published in November 2023 after whistleblowers came forward alleging sex discrimination, racial harassment and other abuses. The independent investigation took place over three months and included testimonies from more than 70 witnesses at the depot.
Workers said they regularly saw colleagues being violent, racist, homophobic and misogynistic to other staff members. The council bin depot in Brighton (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus) Many accused in the report are either GMB representatives or among roughly ten white men described as having been protected by the union reps. One employee even brought a samurai sword, nunchucks, knives and other violent weapons to work while the investigation was already underway, the report stated.
Ms McColgan was told about employees who painted racist graffiti on bin lorries parked.