£1,000 fines for dog mess

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By Sundeep Kumar - Worcester

Most people in charge of dogs take a responsible attitude to clearing up after them.

DOG owners who let their pets foul parts of Worcester could face a £1,000 fine - far higher than any previous penalties.

Anyone in charge of a dog that defecates on city council-owned land and fails to clear up the mess immediately could face the hefty fine.

Councillor Francis Lankester, the council cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "I am delighted that we are making this order.

"It gives the council the power to enforce good practice among dog owners.

"Most people in charge of dogs in Worcester take a responsible attitude to clearing up after them. But the selfish few who can't be bothered make the environment unpleasant and unsanitary for the rest of us.

"Hopefully, the threat of a fine will make them improve their behaviour."

However, there is an opportunity for offenders to pay less. Owners will be offered a fixed penalty notice of £80 payable within 14 days. This will be reduced to £50 if paid in 10 days.

The order will apply unless the person concerned has a reasonable excuse, or the person or authority who has control over the land agrees that the mess need not be cleared up.

Being unaware of the mess, or having no suitable means to remove it, are not counted as reasonable excuses.

“Most people in charge of dogs in Worcester take a responsible attitude to clearing up after them. But the selfish few who can’t be bothered make the environment unpleasant and unsanitary for the rest of us." Councillor Francis Lankester.

The order does not apply if the person in charge of a dog is registered blind or has another disability and relies on the dog Environmental Health boss Mike Harrison said every dog owner caught would get the chance to pay £50 before it starts to go up.

"What we're saying is, people have got the 14 days to pay us £50 if we catch their dogs fouling.

"If it passes that point the fine starts to go up. It could be £1,000 if magistrates decide to fine them the maxmimum amount.

"Dog fouling is a problem and fixed penalty orders will help us. We are hopeful the order will allow us to take a lot more action and really step it up."

The order applies to all land in Worcester which is in the open air, including covered land open to the air on at least one side, to which the public have access with or without payment.

The only exceptions are Forestry Commission land, or land designated as not subject to the order by the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs David Miliband, the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.