Dog fouling fines low due to 'reluctance' to give evidence

Fines for dog fouling aren't being handed out because of an "understandable" reluctance of residents to provide evidence against neighbours, a council has said.

Only four fixed penalty notices have been issued by Telford and Wrekin Council since 2021/22 and just one has been paid, the authority said in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

A £60 payment was made in 2023/24 and three other warnings were given as "eyewitnesses [were] not willing to provide statements for use at court".

"Understandably, people are reluctant to come forward and give evidence against their neighbours," the council said.

The data demonstrated that prosecutions for dog fouling were difficult to secure, the spokesperson added.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council to provide figures under the Freedom of Information Act for fixed penalty notices issued under Section 4 – Dog (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 for the years 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Under the act, the council has the power to issue fixed penalties of £60 if paid in 10 days or £100 if paid in 28 days.

It can also take offenders to court where they can be ordered to pay £1,000 on conviction.

A fixed penalty was also issued in 2022/23 but the council said the person was "homeless and unable to pay fine amount." They were given a warning.

In August, the council said the number of reported cases of dog fouling in the Telford and Wrekin Council area had increased by 36% in a year.

Community action teams cleared a record number of dog faeces from the streets, the council said.

The authority said it encouraged everyone to clean up after their dogs and for residents to continue to report dog fouling via the MyTelford app or by calling a confidential hotline.

"Most residents have a great deal of pride in where they live and it is the minority of irresponsible dog owners who create this dangerous eyesore," a spokesperson said.

The council said CCTV was regularly reviewed in hotspots and cases brought forward would be investigated.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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