Council eyes first-of-its-kind dog fouling offence via Public Space Protection Order

Daventry District Council is to consult on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that would make it an offence should dog walkers fail to carry a poop bag or other means of clearing up after their animal.

Under the proposal, which was agreed at a meeting of the council's strategy group last week, dog owners could face a fine and potentially prosecution if they cannot produce the means by which they intend to clean up.

Daventry said it believed that it was the first council in the country to consider the introduction of such an offence.

The consulation – to begin in mid-May – will also ask people for their views on the possible introduction of an additional rule requiring dogs to be on leads in Daventry Country Park.

Daventry currently enforces three dog control orders that make it an offence for people to fail to pick up after their dog, allow their dog into a designated children’s play area and to fail to put their dog on a lead when directed to do so by a council officer.

These rules will remain under the PSPO, to be joined by the new additional offences if agreed. 

Maria Taylor, Community Manager at Daventry District Council, said: “We receive more than 120 complaints about dog fouling each year but despite regular patrols it is difficult to catch offenders in the act.

“If agreed, the new order would give our officers greater powers to catch the irresponsible minority of dog owners who go out with no intention of picking up after their pets.”

She added: “We believe we are the first council in the country to consider the introduction of such an offence. We are committed to tackling the issue of dog fouling and want to gain the public’s views on the matter before making a decision on whether these are the best ways.”