Lewisham Council screws the pooch

Lewisham Council has done the right thing in the war on dog poo - deciding to supplement the schoolboy stink line stencils with a more muscular approach, that will involve spot fines of £75.

However, the policy is only half the battle, enforcement is also crucial and we hope to see some "crack units" lurking around, waiting to pounce on irresponsible owners.

Here's the release:

A new borough-wide order giving Lewisham Council extra powers to take action against irresponsible dog owners has been approved.New legislation, under Section 55 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005) means that action and enforcement against people who do not comply with new rules can be taken. The new Dog Control Order was approved by the Mayor and Cabinet on 28 January.

Lewisham Council wants anyone who owns a dog to behave in a responsible manner, and the vast majority of people do. There are, however, a small number of people who do sometimes act irresponsibly. These are the people the Council will now be able to take action against, if they break the new regulations.

A new on-the-spot fine will come into effect from 6 April 2009 for anyone not complying with the new regulations, which will apply across the borough.

Lesley Seary, Executive Director for Customer Services, said: “The public has a right to walk around Lewisham without being afraid of uncontrolled dogs, or of stepping in dog faeces.“The adoption of the borough-wide order will enable us to take action against people who act irresponsibly by not controlling their dogs, or by allowing them to foul our footpaths and green spaces."

The adoption of a borough-wide Dog Control Order means that an on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notice of £75 will be issued if people with dogs:

- Fail to remove their dog’s faeces from a public place
- Do not keep their dog on a lead in a designated area such as a park or open space - these will be sign-posted in public areas
- Do not put, or keep their dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officerPermit their dog to enter land to which dogs are excluded - these will be sign-posted
- Take more than 4 dogs onto land at any one time