After five months patrolling the streets of Dartford, the town’s trial litter enforcement team will be given a three-year contract to continue.

Officers from Kingdom Security, the firm hired by Dartford council to help clean up the town, have handed out more than 1,000 fines since January.

The majority of the £75 penalties went to people caught dropping cigarettes — a whopping 97%.

Others were fined for dropping food, packaging and other waste. There are only three reported instances of dog fouling, which carries a £50 fine.

Just over 70% of the fines have been paid in full, enough to mean that the service is so far operating at no cost.

Dartford Labour leader Jonathon Hawkes said he supported the council’s push to tackle littering, but expressed doubt over the figures revealed so far.

“We have got a record as a council as not usually being one of these fining, ‘in your face’ kind of councils, but the problem with the litter became unacceptable.” Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite.

“There is no doubt that cigarette litter is a problem in Dartford, but I would also suggest that substantially more than 3% of the litter in Dartford is non-cigarette related,” he said.

“I think people will be surprised that only three FPNs have been given for dog fouling.

“Perhaps the most surprising thing about this report is the lack of evidence presented that the scheme is actually working. There is no quantifiable data being made available to indicate that litter is reducing.

“This report would suggest that there is still not enough action to prevent litter being dropped, or adequate enforcement against those who drop it or fly tip in our community.”

Council leader Jeremy Kite (Con) has previously said that the addition of patrols to the town was a key step in keeping the streets cleaner.

Speaking in March, when 500 fines had already been issued, he said: “The litter patrol is going really well, the town is looking cleaner as we had hoped.

“We have got a record as a council as not usually being one of these fining, ‘in your face’ kind of councils, but the problem with the litter became unacceptable.”

Cllr Kite decided to introduce the patrols following a public consultation back in October.

Kingdom has been employed by the council on a trial basis but councillors approved a three-year contract for continued private sector litter enforcement at a cabinet meeting last night.