Camden Council has admitted that it was involved in the disposal of homeless people’s tents in central London last week.
The London council said it had launched an investigation after footage emerged of refuse workers throwing a tent into a bin lorry last Friday (10 November).
The council’s acting leader, Pat Callaghan, had said on Friday: ‘We are deeply concerned to see these videos and I am ordering an urgent investigation into what happened.'
She had added: ‘I'm also concerned that our contracted waste operator has been engaged in this operation and I will be personally looking into why this has happened.’
Deputy leader Adam Harrison has since said: ‘it is clear that something has gone wrong here’.
Cllr Harrison said: ‘We can now share that initial investigations, since the operation, have shown that there was operational involvement from Camden – what happened was unacceptable and doesn't reflect the values we hold as a council.
‘We will make sure this is clear and understood at every level of the organisation.
‘Whilst this dispersal order was applied for by University College Hospital London and enforced by the police, we acknowledge that waste collection services were arranged through the council and our rough sleeping support services were engaged to support people affected.’
The Metropolitan Police said it had issued a section 35 dispersal order on 10 November after University College London Hospital raised concerns about approximately 10 tents near the hospital entrance in Huntley Street.
The police force said individuals had left the site and some left tents behind, which were removed by refuse company Veolia.
A Veolia spokesperson said: 'For many years we have provided waste management and recycling services in the borough on behalf of and under the strict supervision of Camden Council, and the police when needed.
'This was the case in this instance.'
The spokesperson added: 'We are working internally and with Camden Council to review how requests of this nature will be handled in the future.'
