Over 350 dog owners in Sefton have been fined for anti-social behaviour over the past three years while council officers have received nearly 1,000 requests for help.
The A £75 fixed penalty notices (£50 if paid within 10 days) have been issued for a range of offences including dogs not on a lead in a family area; failing to remove dog fouling; dogs entering and remaining on a marked sports pitch; dogs not on a lead in a cemetery.
A total of 366 dog owners have been fined while eight people were prosecuted in 2022 and five were prosecuted in 2023.
In the last three years, Sefton Council has received 924 Requests for Service, including 851 for dog fouling, and 16 for dangerous / aggressive dogs.
Between 2021 and January 2024 meanwhile, Merseyside Police recorded 564 incidents of dogs out of control where injury occurred. Over 70% of these were in a public place.
Tonight, Sefton councillors will look to extend the current Public Spaces Protection Order Dog Control for a further three years.
The extension of the council’s enforcement powers aims to address irresponsible dog control and protect the public from anti-social behaviour that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of local people.
In a report to councillors, Sefton Council Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) Peter Moore said:
“Key issues and anecdotal reports from Green Sefton confirm dog fouling remains an issue in all parks and coastal sites with the littering of significant number of dog fouling bags also identified.
“Dogs are often encountered in enclosed children’s play areas and dogs witnessed being aggressive to park users and other dogs.
“Numerous instances of disturbance by dog walkers to the roosting birds in coastal areas have been noted and on some occasions dog walkers have been observed allowing or encouraging their dogs to disturb the birds.
“There remains ongoing vandalism of PSPO signage throughout the Borough and particularly in the North.
“Green Sefton’s community rangers continue to hold education events often involving the Dogs Trust at parks throughout the borough and discuss the PSPO with dog owners at all our sites when on patrol.
“Whilst dog fouling continues to be raised as a problem, it is clear that a major source of anti-social behaviour arises from dogs off leads. This impacts on those who do have their dogs under control and also on those site users who do not have dogs, or may be wary around dogs, with the suggestion that some people are starting to avoid some parks or areas of coast.
“The Burials & Cremation Manager also noted the lack of respect some dog owners have when visiting sensitive locations such as Cemeteries & Crematoria and the impact this has on other people visiting and paying respects.”
A consultation began on 22nd January 2024 for a 4-week period, 340 online responses were received.
These have been overwhelmingly supportive of extending the order, with 82% (279 /340) of respondents saying it should be extended.
The current PSPO for Dog Control will end on 28th April 2024 if not extended tonight .
The following requirements / restrictions are included within the current Order:
- Failure to remove your dog’s fouling forthwith.
- Restrict the number of dogs that can be walked by one person to a maximum of 6 dogs on or off the lead.
- Prohibit dogs from entering enclosed playgrounds.
- Prohibit dogs from entering marked or fenced sports pitches during specified times.
- Dogs to be kept on a lead within defined picnic sites and family areas in parks.
- Dogs to be kept on a lead within all designated carriageways (A and B classified Road) and footways.
- Dogs to be kept on a lead within all cemeteries and crematoria.
- Dogs to be placed on a lead when directed by an authorised officer to prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to members of the public.
- Dog leads must be no greater than 2 metres in length when used in the locations specified above.
A £75 fixed penalty notice (£50 if paid within 10 days) can be issued if someone fails to comply with the requirement / restrictions within the Order.
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