Cheshire East Council has given powers to the 67 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in the Borough to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for Littering and Dog Fouling offences.
This is in addition to the Council’s 10 Community Wardens, who already issue such fines.
Councillor Brian Silvester, Cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “Dog Fouling and Litter are issues of great concern to the public and we have adopted a zero tolerance approach to these offences.
“By empowering our PCSOs and working more closely with our partners we are determined to tackle these issues and protect our environment and make it cleaner.”
“The small irresponsible minority of residents and visitors who let their dog foul or just drop litter show a complete disregard for the whole community and this will not be tolerated in Cheshire East”
Those caught will be fined £75 for dropping litter and £50 for letting their dog foul in a public place.
Comments
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The Dog (fouling of land) Act 1996 was adopted and means that:
It is illegal to fail to clear up after your dog if it fouls on any land which is open to the air and to which the public has access.
The penalty for contravening the act is a £50 fixed penalty fine. If the fine is not paid within 14 days, then this may lead to prosecution in a magistrates court with a maximum fine of a £1000.
So it is NOT an offence to let your dog foul in a public place, it is an offence to NOT pick it up and dispose of it in a bin.
Last summer I noticed a regular offender in the passage way down the side of the allotments next to the park. (where the hedges are nice and high so noone can see) My daughter was playing there, stuck a stick in the poo, got it all over her school dress and her friend too!
Whatever the law says, I personally think it would be lovely if no dogs used the streets as their loo, as after all humans get arrested / fines for doing the same!!
I have noticed there is one dog from the Redesmere Estate. The owner just lets the dog go to the park by itself, it's a mid size black dog with tan brown legs. I have spotted this dog several times fouling in the park without owner around. I do have a picture of the offending dog and will send it via email to Lisa.