Two fines in five years for dog fouling in Cannock
Just two fines have been handed out for dog fouling in Cannock in the last five years – as it was claimed owners are being allowed to get away with not cleaning up after their pets.
No-one was fined for four years straight as new figures suggested a lax attitude towards tackling irresponsible dog owners.
Many councils across the West Midlands have stepped up action to keep the streets clear of dog mess but the issue is not being dealt with across Cannock Chase.
Councillor Maureen Freeman said the district council needed to do more to stamp out the problem, adding: “There really is no enforcement and I’m not happy about that. These things have to be taken seriously.
“It is surprisingly low and I know this has been an issue in our parks.
"There needs to be a blitz to make people aware they can’t get away with it.”
Council bosses insisted they do take dog fouling seriously but said its officers could not be everywhere at a time of financial difficulties.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed not a single fine was issued in the district between 2014 and 2017.
Three were handed out in 2013 and two last year.
Nobody has been prosecuted over dog fouling since 2013, which normally happens when people refuse to pay fines.
A council spokesman said: “We take fouling seriously, deploying enforcement officers to carry out targeted covert and overt patrols in areas where fouling has been reported.
“Our residents also play a big part reporting incidents to us but we do need good information on the culprits and locations if we are to catch offenders.
“Although resources in the council are limited, and we do not have the capacity to be everywhere 24/7, we will look to take action against any offending dog owner that comes to our attention.”
