Arun begins a crackdown to combat dog mess concerns

A CRACKDOWN on careless dog-owners who let their pets poo in public was launched this week.

Irresponsible owners could now face a fixed penalty fine of up to £80 after Arun District Council united with Sussex Police and uniformed security officers to clamp down on dog fouling in the district.

PCs, PCSOs and security officers from private firm Kingdom Security, which is being employed by Arun to help enforce the scheme, are now making daily patrols across the Littlehampton area.

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The £50-£80 penalty will reflect the animal owner’s failure to obey laws around dog fouling, littering and dog control problems.

Arun launched the initiative after councillors reflected the public’s anger at the mounting problem of dog faeces in troublespots across the district.

Cabinet member Paul Dendle, in charge of council’s environmental services, said: “This pilot has been driven by residents who have reported problems with dog mess, especially in some of our parks.

“Allowing a dog to foul in a public place is illegal, as well as being unpleasant and a health hazard.

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Dogs not under control can be intimidating and a danger to wildlife.

“Our approach has always been to educate and inform people about their responsibilities and to follow this up with enforcement.

“But with repeated problems, it’s time to test if a firmer approach to those blatantly ignoring the law will bring about behaviour change and cleaner streets and parks.”

About £20,700 has been allocated from the council’s greenspace service and clean and safe department reserves to fund the move.

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The crackdown on the selfish owners will last for four months and has been welcomed by the Littlehampton Dog Training Club’s secretary, Elizabeth Carlton.

“Dog-owners should take greater care and responsibilty of their pets,” she said. “It really shouldn’t be up to the council to clean up the mess.

“I have three dogs and I would never dream of going out to the town without a plastic bag to clean up their mess.

“So I think this will be a good deterrent for careless owners in the area.”

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In March, the level of dog mess was recorded a week after chosen areas had been cleaned.

The study revealed that in just seven days 73 piles of poo had been left in Brookfield Park, Littlehampton – a known troublespot for fouling.

Chief Inspector Jane Derrick, Arun district police commander, said: “We’ll be supporting Arun in this initiative, targeting areas where it’s having an impact upon the community so our parks, gardens and beaches can be safely enjoyed by all.”