IT'S been revealed controversial litter squad Kingdom is paid by Wirral Council per fine handed out to members of the public – and leaked documents appear to have uncovered those exact amounts.

The figures about the enforcement team, whose contract was renewed by the council last year, were leaked last week.

Wirral council confirmed on Tuesday that they do pay Kingdom a fixed rate for each litter fine handed out – but refused to say whether the exact amounts in the document were correct.

According to the figures, the firm is paid £42.24 per fixed penalty notice (FPN) given out for dog fouling and littering, if the offence is “proven”.

For fly-tipping, the amount is believed to be £150 per FPN, while fines given out for smoking in restricted areas is £25.The hourly rates for both environmental enforcement officers have also been revealed – with staff apparently paid between £18 and £20 an hour depending on the time of day.

The information has been uncovered after a setback for the council’s dog fouling enforcement policies on Tuesday evening, which saw a committee vote to scrap plans to ban dogs from more than 100 locations across Wirral. Called a Public Spaces Protection Order, the policy, which could still go ahead and is subject to a final decision by the cabinet, would be enforced by Kingdom.

When contacted for comment about the leaked figures, Wirral Council said it could not comment on details of Kingdom’s contract as they were “commercially sensitive”.

But a spokeswoman said: “The contract that we have with Kingdom entitles them to a fee for each proven fixed penalty notice they issue.

“In return, the council receives an ‘all-inclusive’ litter enforcement service, round the clock, 362 days per year. Any surplus income made by the council from the scheme is reinvested solely for environmental services in Wirral.

“We are committed to using all the powers at our disposal to ensure fixed penalties are paid so any financial risk to the council is minimised. This includes a commitment to prosecuting people for the offence through the courts if they do not pay the fixed penalty.”

A Kingdom spokesman added: “Kingdom were in an open tender process for the council contract.

“Kingdom run a cost-neutral, financially risk-free service for the council.”

Kingdom officers have been accused of using intimidating and aggressive behaviour during their time on Merseyside – behaviour which led to their contract with Liverpool Council being cancelled at the end of last year.

But they continue to operate in Wirral – and just last week footage emerged of officers apparently following and blocking a grandmother in Birkenhead.