Councillor says dog fouling should carry same penalty as littering

A senior Liberal Democrat councillor has called for the £40 fixed penalty for dog fouling to be increased to the same as the £80 for dropping litter.

Fife Council Lib Dem group leader Councillor Tim Brett was speaking after receiving information on dog fouling, which showed that incidents across Fife had apparently stabilised and indeed showed a slight reduction in North-East Fife and Levenmouth.

However, Mr Brett warned: “The reduction in reported incidents from 306 to 209 and fixed penalties issued from 34 to eight in North-East Fife notices does not necessarily mean that there are fewer instances of fouling but rather that in 2012 there were additional dog wardens, which could explain the higher numbers for that year.”

Mr Brett noted that there had been fewer incidents reported in Levenmouth from 243 in 2012, to just under 200 in 2014 and urged people to report dog fouling on 03451 55 00 22.

He added: “I was astonished to be advised that the fixed penalty charge, which I believe is set nationally, is only £40, when fines for littering are £80 and fly tipping, £200.”