Dog fouling complaints in Sefton halved as vote takes place on new rules for owners

Complaints over dog fouling in Sefton have nearly halved while alerts over dangerous dogs have fallen to a third of what they were. 

The figures were revealed as Sefton Council’s full council meets tonight (Thursday, 19 November) to decide whether to impose new rules on dog owners in the borough. 

They will include eight rules which have been in place under the previous Public Space Protection Order, which ran for the past three years. 

An organisation called Freedom For Dogs – Sefton however will be urging councillors to revoke the order, saying laws already exist to promote responsible dog ownership and the proposed rules would be “a sledgehammer to crack a nut”. 

In the last three years, the council has employed a private firm, NSL Ltd, to enforce rules for owners. 

Sefton figures suggest that complaints over dog fouling have fallen from 753 (2016/17) to 396 (2019/20) while reports of dangerous dog incidents have fallen from 92 (2016/17) to 26 (2019/20). 

Contractors have used 568 fines to dog owners during that time for offences including dog fouling, allowing dogs to enter enclosed playgrounds and allowing dogs to run onto sports pitches.

Those caught breaking the rules face fines of up to £75. 

Tonight councillors will be asked to vote on a Public Space Protection Order – Dog Control (PSPO). 

The original rules were made in 2017 but need to be renewed now, with a couple of changes set to be made with a number of original rules carried on, following public consultation.

They follow thousands of complaints in recent years in Sefton over dog fouling, aggressive dogs and stray dogs.

The 8 existing rules due to be carried over are:

1 – Offence of not removing dog’s fouling forthwith 

2 – Restrict the number of dogs that can be walked by one person to a maximum of 6.

3 – Prohibit dogs from entering enclosed playgrounds 

4 – Prohibit dogs from entering marked or fenced sports pitches during specified periods. 

5 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within defined picnic sites and family areas 

6 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within all public roads and footways 

7 – Dogs to be kept on a lead within all cemeteries and crematoria 

8-  Dogs to be placed on a lead when directed by an authorised officer to prevent a nuisance or behaviour likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to the public 

Councillors also want one new rule introduced, which will mean that dogs must now be kept on leads of not more than 2.0 metres in length within unfenced (open) playgrounds.

However, two requirements / restrictions would not be included within the proposed PSPO  

1 –  Dogs to be kept on leads within a golf course 

2 – Dogs to be kept on a lead on the beach

A £75 fixed penalty notice (£50 if paid within 10 days) can be issued if dog owners fail to comply with the requirements / restrictions within the Order. 

Public space protection orders can be made by councils where activities take place that have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, such as dog fouling. 

A consultation took place in March, which was interrupted by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and was continued in September and October. 1,186 responses were received. 

Freedom For Dogs – Sefton has written to the council, saying: “We argue that the PSPO actually targets and criminalises dog owners who are already responsible, while it does not even begin to tackle those who do not observe basic consideration for their wider community. The PSPO’s aim is to tackle anti-social behaviour but fails to do so. It is not fit for purpose. 

“The outsourcing of management of the PSPO to a private company also creates perverse incentives for that company to demonstrate a need for its existence to generate income through potentially overzealous enforcement. 

“Dogs play a hugely positive role within our communities. They alleviate loneliness among the older generation and are good, loyal companions, supporting mental health in situations where people may otherwise suffer from depression, as well as providing invaluable support to the disabled and as therapy dogs.

“Under the PSPO we feel that dogs are being marginalised and criminalised because of the behaviour of a minority of the community who should be dealt with through per-existing laws supported by education and enforcement laws that are entirely fit for purpose.”

The new proposals have been backed by Merseyside Police however, with Superintendent Graeme Robson of Sefton Community Policing saying: “From a police perspective we recognise the impact that dogs can cause if they are not looked after responsibly and they to cause concern to people so having some restrictions that can be publicised and enforced not only gives us the opportunity to take action against people who breach the order but also give the public some reassurance about what we are doing to protect them. We continue to support the proposed PSPO.”

During the consultation a significant number of people identified that signage used during the initial PSPO was not good enough.

Sefton Council said a review of signage would be necessary, with new signs due to cost £10,000.  

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