Dog fouling on the rise but no fines paid

Almost 100 dog fouling incidents a month were reported in Telford and Wrekin in 2023-24

The number of reported cases of dog fouling in the Telford and Wrekin Council area has increased by 36% in a year.

In 2023-24 there were 1,119 cases reported and cleared, an average of almost 100 a month, up from 823 in the previous financial year.

Despite that, fewer than 20 fines have been issued since 2022 and none of them have been paid.

The local authority said its community action teams had cleared a record number of dog faeces from the streets, but admitted it was hard to bring prosecutions.

It said the rise in offences could be partly a result of its teams proactively reporting incidents, while there had also been a rise in pet ownership.

The statistics have been released as part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC, although the council refused to release exact figures for the number of fines, claiming it would somehow identify individuals involved.

The FOI results showed Hadley and Woodside to be hotspot areas.

A borough-wide public space protection order was introduced in 2022, giving council and police officers more powers to fine offenders £100, including dog walkers caught without carrying dog poo bags.

Andy Bosher frequently clears dog mess from the rugby pitches in Newport

Newport Salop Rugby Union Football Club said fouling had become a big problem, but it did not have the finances to completely fence off its pitches from the adjoining public footpaths.

"The big issue we have is people ignoring the signs telling people to keep off the pitch," said Andy Bosher, bar and catering manager at the club.

"We get up to 400 children playing here on a Sunday and team managers have had to go round and pick dog poo off the fields."

The club said that in 2015 one player almost lost a foot after a cut became infected by dog poo.

'Very disappointed'

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement called on owners to take greater responsibility for their dogs.

He called on the "small minority" of owners responsible for the mess to treat the borough's parks and streets as if they were their own homes.

Mr Overton admitted that, like him, local residents would be "very disappointed" to see so few fines brought and none to be paid.

He said people were often reluctant to come forward and give evidence against their neighbours and calls for witnesses usually had a poor response.

"We are clear that we would fine if we had the evidence and everything to back it up and we would take people to court if we had to," he said.

The council said that fouling could be reported on the MyTelford app, while there was a promise to clear up dog mess on high streets or outside a school within four hours.