Social media messages from Greenwich Council that include redacted profanities have faced backlash from certain councillors, who deemed them “unprofessional and disrespectful.”

In response, the council defended the content, highlighting that it had reached thousands of viewers without any negative feedback being reported.

These posts were published following the authority’s announcement of a £5 million investment aimed at combating fly-tipping. This initiative includes the deployment of new CCTV cameras, the establishment of a public rewards program, and the implementation of stricter penalties.

On both the council’s X and Facebook accounts, there was an image of a waste collector discarding a trash bag into a compactor, accompanied by the caption: “We’re not tolerating this nonsense any longer.”

The Independent and Green Group on the Greenwich Council have requested that the posts be removed, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Independent councillor Lakshan Saldin remarked that the posts were “inappropriate for public communication” and set a poor example for the community, particularly for youth as leaders.

Council leader Anthony Okereke asserted that residents perceived the messages in a humorous light, pointed out that there had been no complaints, and characterized the issue of fly-tipping in the borough as far more disturbing.