Leeds binmen assaulted more than 50 times as FOI reveals council forked out £100k in compensation

Refuse collectors in Leeds have been assaulted over 50 times in the last three financial years, shocking new data reveals.

Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Accident Claims Advice shows Leeds City Council forked out more than £104,168 in compensation to waste collection staff, between April 2022 and March 2025.

As many as 52 assaults were logged across operations managed by the authority, where frontline workers face a range of daily hazards while delivering an essential public service.

The number of reported incidents remains a persistent concern. In 2022/23, 21 cases of assault were recorded. That figure sat at 15 in 2023/24, before rising slightly to 16 in the most recent 2024/25 financial year.

While the majority of these incidents (48) were classed as verbal abuse, the council confirmed that staff also suffered four physical attacks across the same timeframe.

Worryingly, in 2024/25, the local authority logged eight incidents specifically categorised as hate crimes involving physical or verbal assault.

Alongside the distressing assault figures, the council also recorded 123 general workplace injuries amongst its refuse collectors.

The injury toll fluctuated over the three years, with 45 injuries logged in 2022/23, dropping to 21 in 2023/24, before climbing sharply to 57 in the most recent year.

These incidents have resulted in severe financial consequences for the authority.

Over the three-year period, Leeds City Council paid out an astonishing £104,168 in compensation to its waste collection staff for injuries sustained on the job. The vast majority of this – £100,997 – was settled during 2022/23, with a further £3,171 paid out in 2023/24.

This staggering payout makes Leeds City Council the highest-paying local authority for refuse collector compensation out of all the councils that responded to the nationwide FOI request.

In contrast, neighbouring Bradford Metropolitan District Council recorded far fewer assaults (11) and workplace injuries (102). The authority managed to keep its coffers shut over the same three-year period.

Meanwhile, nearby Wakefield City Council recorded seven assaults and 29 injuries, paying out a comparatively modest £3,100 in compensation during 2023/24.

National evidence suggests violence and harassment against frontline workers can be under-reported, with some staff viewing verbal abuse from residents as simply part of the job.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers – including local authorities – have a duty to protect their staff and reduce risks to workplace safety.

Patrick Mallon, Head of Department for Accidents at Work and Public Liability Claims at JF Law, said the findings raise serious concerns about the safety of refuse workers.

“What these disclosures show is a pattern that can no longer be dismissed as isolated wrongdoing, refuse collectors perform an essential public service, often in challenging conditions. Yet the number of assaults they face highlights the risks front-line workers encounter every day.”

He added that workers may sometimes stay silent about incidents because they believe reporting them will not lead to action.

“That silence should not be mistaken for absence of harm. It reflects fear and a system that too often normalises abuse as part of the job.”

Accident Claims Advice offers expert legal support and advice to those affected by workplace injuries or assaults. Individuals can book a free consultation or contact the organisation’s 24-hour helpline through its website.