Council cracks down on dog fouling
People will be able to keep track of incidents soon.
Members of the public will soon be able to keep track of nuisance offences – such as dog fouling and flytipping – within their own neighbourhoods.
The wheels are in motion for recorded statistics on these incidents to be made publicly available via Dumfries and Galloway Council’s website.
This news comes following requests from several councillors for a crackdown on dog fouling, which they say continues to “blight” the region.
A report by the council’s community safety team for 2024/25 revealed that there continues to be high numbers of incidents across Dumfries and Galloway.
It revealed the following stats: flytipping investigations – 862 (with 15 fixed penalties issued), littering – 41, and dog fouling – 237 complaints (with 20 fixed penalties of £80 issued).
Speaking at the council’s education, skills, and community wellbeing committee yesterday (Tuesday), Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall said: “These issues blight the whole of our region and I’m just wondering if information can be sent outwith the meeting on the spread of that across locations if possible. A little bit more of a breakdown on where those offences were carried out and penalised.”
Martin Ogilvie, the council’s resilience and community safety manager, replied: “Yes, we gather that information down to ward level, and it’s the ambition of the team within the next quarter that all of that information will be made available publicly and openly via the council webpage or portal.
“That will allow anyone, including members, to search a date and time and geographical area to get the data that we hold.”
Castle Douglas and Crocketford Councillor John Young said: “I know several years ago in response to a dog fouling complaint the council would send a couple of safety officers out in an unmarked van and with a camera. That’s if the incident occurred regularly, to photograph and then charge these people.
“Are we still able to do that?”
Mr Ogilvie responded: “That partially happens. I don’t think we’ve ever deployed camera equipment to photograph people – we don’t need to do that.
“A competent officer can enforce without taking photographs. They just need to witness it.
“What we encourage elected members and the public to do is use the ‘report it’ tool on the council’s webpage.
“That’s anonymous and it encourages the person reporting to give us details, particularly if there’s a repeat offence. Dog walkers are creatures of habit and, if there’s a repeat offence, we will do our best to make sure there’s officers in that vicinity at the time to issue an enforcement ticket.”
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Jim Dempster said: “On the dog fouling issue, I’m not surprised members are talking about this because it’s one of the blights on our society.
“Less than one in ten complaints are resolved.”