Binmen sacked after being filmed brawling with members of the public on high street

This is the shocking moment a street brawl broke out between members of the public and two binmen, who have since been sacked from their jobs.

The refuse collectors, both still wearing their orange hi-vis clothes, threw punches and yelled at passers-by as horrified witnesses looked on.

Videos posted on social media showed one of the binmen sprawled out on the ground after the altercation with a man in Chatham, Kent.

Moments earlier the two men were seen running down the High Street, with one swinging two pub chairs and shouting.

The binmen fought with members of the public on Chatham High Street. (SWNS)
The binmen fought with members of the public on Chatham High Street. (SWNS) (SWNS)

A bystander said one of the workers had been knocked to the floor but got back to his feet with blood dripping from his mouth and appeared to scream threats at passers-by again.

Another witness said the binmen were throwing the outdoor chairs at random people as the incident escalated.

Alicia Martin, who had been walking through the town centre on Monday at around 5pm when the fight started, said it had been a frightening experience.

She said: "I was walking down the High Street. They were binmen in their uniforms and the next thing they were taking chairs from outside Wetherspoons and trying to throw them at people.

"Everyone started running up the road, they grabbed chairs and were trying to throw them at everyone – even at me and the boy I was with.”

The refuse collectors were both still wearing their orange hi-vis clothes. (SWNS)
The refuse collectors were both still wearing their orange hi-vis clothes. (SWNS) (SWNS)

She added: ”I don't know why it started – everyone just started fighting. It was worrying – there were girls with prams and he's throwing chairs about."

Medway Norse, the Medway Council-owned company that runs bin collections and street cleaning in the area, confirmed the men have been dismissed from their roles, and the firm is helping with police enquiries.

Andy Mann, operations director for Medway Norse said they were "appalled" by the shocking footage.

A witness said the binmen were throwing  outdoor chairs at random people as the incident escalated. (SWNS)
A witness said the binmen were throwing outdoor chairs at random people as the incident escalated. (SWNS) (SWNS)

He added: “We are absolutely appalled at the behaviour of the individuals involved in this incident and, while this took place outside of the working day, behaviour of this kind – particularly while representing Norse by wearing our uniform – will not be tolerated.

“We have taken immediate action and the individuals have today been dismissed from any role they held with us. One was fulfilling their six-month probation period, and the second was fulfilling a temporary agency role, so was not a direct employee of Norse.”

The men have been dismissed from their roles and the firm is helping with police enquiries.
The men have been dismissed from their roles and the firm is helping with police enquiries. (SWNS)

Mann added that the incident “centred around a family dispute”.

Kent Police confirmed they were called at 5.11pm on Monday to a report of a disturbance in Chatham High Street.

A spokesman for the force said officers attended but the offenders had already left the area and no suspects were identified.

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