New powers mean enforcement officers in North West Leicestershire can dish out £100 fines for not carrying dog poo bags.
The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) means that if a dog owner cannot prove they have the means of picking up their pet’s muck they will be fined £100.
It means a dog owner that has no intention of cleaning up the poo risks punishment for the duration of their trip out – not just at the brief point the dog excretes.
This is just one of several new orders issued by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), which also include preventing dogs from entering enclosed children’s play areas or going onto designated sports pitches.
The offences punishable by a £100 fine are:
- Failing to pick up dog poo on any land unless it is privately owned and without public access
- An owner not being able to prove that they have the means to pick up dog poo
- Allowing a dog to be in a fenced or enclosed children’s play area
- Allowing a dog to be on any designated sports pitch or athletics area at any time
- Failing to put a dog on a lead when instructed to so by an authorised council officer.
All fines will be reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days. Should a fine go unpaid then the matter would proceed to a magistrates’ court where the maximum fine is £1,000.
Councillor Alison Smith MBE, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Services at NWLDC, said: “Everyone knows that owners are responsible for picking up their dog’s poo and yet we continue to receive regular complaints about the issue.
“These new orders give us more powers to punish inconsiderate owners and as a result make our streets, parks and nature areas a more pleasant place to be. Particular protection has been given to play areas and sports pitches, where dog poo poses more significant health risks in addition to it being simply awful for anyone that encounters it.
“Law-abiding dog owners have absolutely nothing to worry about and I’m sure will welcome the new orders as much as anyone else.”