Waste Firm's 'Heartless' Act Caught on Camera
A major waste management company has issued a public apology after its employees were filmed callously removing and disposing of a homeless woman's few possessions from a Dover street. The incident, which occurred on December 27, 2025, was captured on video by a concerned onlooker and has sparked outrage and an official investigation.
The footage shows two workers from Veolia, the contracted waste firm for Dover District Council (DDC), in high-visibility uniforms. They are seen taking items, some sealed in plastic, along with a mattress from outside a Boots store in Dover town centre. The woman was not present at the time.
'She's Now Going to Come Back and Have Nothing'
Witness Katie Whitcombe described the scene as 'heartless', especially given the timing over the Christmas and New Year period. 'She’s now going to come back and have nothing, even though she’s got nothing at all anyway,' Miss Whitcombe said. She noted that some of the items appeared to be gifts from locals, including a tiny vase of flowers.
'Knowing that locals have gone out of their way to purchase these items to gift to them, to help them, and knowing that they’ve just been disposed of and not put to good use as they should be, it’s just heartbreaking,' she added. Miss Whitcombe attempted to alert the street pastors' outreach team so they could support the woman upon her return.
Council and Contractor Launch Investigation and Training
In a joint response, both Dover District Council and Veolia confirmed an investigation is underway. A Veolia spokesperson stated the belongings were 'incorrectly removed' following a request made through a public portal. The company admitted its established policies, designed to ensure items are only taken when no longer needed, were not followed.
As a direct consequence, Veolia street cleansing crews will now undertake 'refresher training' to prevent a repeat of the incident. The apology acknowledged the significant impact the loss would have on the vulnerable woman.
The latest official figures from DDC estimate that nine people sleep rough in the district on any given night, highlighting the ongoing challenges of homelessness in the area.
