Dog fouling and controlling dogs in public places - Public Spaces Protection Order
The Council aims to promote responsible dog ownership and reduce complaints for dog issues such as dog fouling.
This allows the public and especially children access to dog-free or dog-controlled areas intended for recreational purposes to improve health and well-being, making Caerphilly Borough a safe and enjoyable place to live. The Council intends to reduce and tackle issues relating to dogs causing a nuisance to others and also to reduce the potential health implications associated with dog faeces
Following public consultation, in November 2021 Caerphilly County Borough Council approved a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which contains new restrictions in relation to dog control. This Order will come into force on 1st March 2022.
The Council has approved a Public Spaces Protection Order in respect of six offences, these are:
- Excluding dogs from all enclosed children’s play and multi-use games areas
- Requiring dogs to be kept on leads in enclosed memorial gardens
- Requiring dog owners to remove dog faeces in public places
- Requiring dog owners to carry an appropriate receptacle for dealing with the waste that their dogs produce (that is to always have the means to pick their dog faeces) Report dog fouling
- Requiring dog owners to put their dogs on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer on any public land where the dog is considered to be out of control or causing harm or distress to prevent a nuisance.
- Excluding dogs from marked playing pitches/areas
Related documents
Public Consultation
Exemptions
Please note that a registered blind person, or a person with a disability affecting their mobility, manual dexterity or ability to lift, carry or move everyday objects and who relies upon a dog trained by a prescribed charity for assistance is exempt from the dog fouling order.
Background information
What are PSPOs?
PSPOs are a new provision, created by the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 intended to deal with any particular nuisances or problems in a defined area that are detrimental to the local community's quality of life. They can help by giving local authorities and police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. The aim is to stop individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces by introducing restrictions on the use of an area.
If anyone fails to meet the requirements of the PSPO or to comply with a request from a police office, police community support officer (PCSO) or authorised council officer, they could be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of up to £100 or prosecuted. However, these measures are designed to deal with extremes of anti-social behaviour and authorised officers will take a proportionate and common sense approach in their application.
The PSPO in Caerphilly CBC replaces current dog fouling legislation, and Dog Control Orders (DCOs), as well as introduce new measures to help tackle irresponsible dog owners.
The PSPO consolidates the existing dog fouling powers we have under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and the current Dog Control Orders from the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2006 into a single Order.
The new powers enhance the council's ability to deal with irresponsible dog owners by making it an offence to fail to put a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer, allowing a dog onto marked sports playing pitches and enclosed memorial gardens. It is an offence not to have the means to pick up their dog's faeces when asked to do so - this would mean that if a dog walker could not produce, when requested by an authorised officer, a poop bag or similar they would risk being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.
The PSPO will remain in place for three (3) years after which it can be reviewed. The PSPO can also be varied at any time within this period.