Private firm helping council to tackle dog fouling

Aberdeen City Council has brought in a private company to help tackle problems with dog fouling and littering.

The local authority's wardens are receiving support from National Enforcement Solutions (NES) so they can issue on-the-spot fines as well as fixed penalty notices.

NES works with other UK councils on parking and environmental enforcement, but the company said it believed the arrangement with Aberdeen was the first of its kind in Scotland.

Aberdeen City's co-leader Ian Yuill said the council was aware of residents' frustration with levels of dog mess and littering.

Previously, people caught in the city not picking up after their dog were issued with a fixed penalty notice of £80, which increases to £100 if not paid within 28 days.

Mr Yuill said: "Dog waste can be harmful, especially to young people.

"Littering is unacceptable and unsightly. Litter pollutes the environment and is harmful to wildlife.

"We all share responsibility of looking after our city."

Co-leader Christian Allard said NES' work with wardens did not change the council's previous messages around anti-social behaviour.

"Please look after our environment by picking up after your pets, and using the litter bins provided, or take your waste home," he said.

The NES team and wardens will use digital technology to issue on-the-spot fines for littering and dog fouling.

Wardens can also issue on-the-spot fines for fly tipping offences.

Community safety officers would carry out more in-depth investigations into incidents if necessary.

Where notices are handed out, they would include information on the different methods of payment and dates by which they should be paid.