PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’s enviro-crime contractors District Enforcement Ltd only managed to catch 27 dog fowlers, and 13 litter droppers between September and February 2019 according to the latest statistics.
‘The Fag-Butt Police’, as locals have nicknamed them, did manage to issue 1658 tickets to people stubbing out their fags on the road – 1150 for cigarette buts and 508 for dropping the end of a rollie – netting over £140,000 in fines.
Instead of admitting that their policy of employing enforcement for action against fly tipping and littering is failing miserably – amongst allegations of bully boy tactics and stalking by enforcement officers – the Council have sent out a press release condemning irresponsible dog owners in Milford Haven.
“Irresponsible dog owners in Milford Haven can lay a claim to the most unwanted title in Pembrokeshire” the press release claims “Top of the poops!” – pointing to just a dozen incidents of dog fowling near Gelliswick Beach and in Haven Head Retail park in the last six months.
But Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor Pat Davies insisted that the partnership with District Enforcement is working.
“Nobody likes stepping in dog mess and no-one likes to see it on our streets,” she said.
“Dog faeces is unhygienic, unsightly and can be a hazard to human health, with the risk of it getting on the wheels of pushchairs and wheelchairs as well as people stepping in it.
“It’s only right and fair that we crackdown on irresponsible dog owners in our County and we will continue to do so.
“Receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice for any environmental crime is not a badge of honour. It should be a source of shame.
“We’re determined to try and keep our streets clean and together with District Enforcement, that is what we are striving to do. The clear message to those irresponsible dog owners is clean up after your dog or face a Fixed Penalty Notice or even court.”
MORE TO FOLLOW
Pembrokeshire’s fixed penalty tickets in numbers…
Statistics – Offence Type:
• 1888 FPNs have been issued in Pembrokeshire between September 2018 and February 2019
• 1150 were issued for people dropping cigarette butts
• 508 were issued for people dropping rolled up cigarettes
• 27 were issued for dog fouling
• 13 were issued for people dropping packaging
Top Three Locations for Service of FPNs (all types):
• 836 in Haverfordwest
• 482 in Milford Haven
• 338 in Pembroke Dock
Issued by Gender:
• 1111 FPNs issued to Men
• 777 issued to Women
