Jackie Cartlidge and Ron Harris were carrying out one of their first patrols accompanied by a Tayside Police officer in a bid to keep the city’s streets clean.

The city council officers have taken up a duty to tackle fly-tipping, littering, graffiti and problems with trade waste from shops and businesses.

With the implementation of the Anti-Social Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 the power to issue fixed penalties has also been extended to police officers, who will help the new waste enforcement officers patrol problem areas.

Failure to pay a fixed penalty within 14 days could mean a visit to court where a fine of up to £2500 could be imposed.

It costs Dundee taxpayers thousands of pounds each year to clean up fly-tipping, littering and graffiti and this new initiative will underline that littering is not only against the law but socially unacceptable.

Councillor Julie Sturrock, convener of environmental services and sustainability, hailed the powers as a significant new step towards keeping the city clean.