WIRRAL Council are warning dog owners they are now taking a zero tolerance approach to dog fouling.

Irresponsible dog owners could face an immediate £50 fixed penalty notice if caught.

This tough approach comes as the council extends its contract with Kingdom, the company set up to enforce the laws around littering.

Cllr Bernie Mooney, Wirral Council cabinet member for environment, said: “As the recent public survey conducted on our behalf by IPSO Mori confirmed, environmental issues such as dog fouling remain the number one priority that residents want us to tackle.

“Our approach to littering has proved extremely successful as a deterrent and many streets in our busiest areas are noticeably cleaner as a result.”

“Many people have urged us to adopt the same policy towards tacking dog fouling and we are delighted that we now have the framework in place with Kingdom which allows its enforcement officers to do just that on our behalf.”

The new enforcement law has been in place since May 9.

To date, 10 fixed penalty notices have already been issued for dog fouling in the first two weeks of this new approach. If the amount isn’t paid in time, the offender will be taken to court.

Cllr Mooney added: “There is no excuse. We know the vast majority of dog owners do the right thing when they are out for a walk - they take bags, they clean up and they put the bagged mess in the nearest bin.

“We’re talking about an irresponsible minority and it is only right that we use the full weight of the powers we have as a local authority to try to change their behaviour and make our public spaces cleaner and more attractive.”

The zero tolerance approach is backed by an awareness-raising campaign focusing on many of the groups of people who face particular problems because of dog dirt – people in wheelchairs, parents pushing prams and buggies, people playing in parks and open spaces.

Dog owners will also be reminded that their bagged dog dirt can be deposited in any of the 4,000 public litter bins across the borough – or it can be taken home and put in your green, non-recyclable waste bin.

If anyone is caught disposing of bagged dog dirt in an inappropriate way, they will be fined under the litter legislation, which at the moment carries a bigger fixed penalty - £80.

Dog fouling enforcement will be intelligence-led, which means that officers will spend much of their time in areas where particular problems with dog-fouling are reported.

Members of the public can let the council know about dog fouling problems by reporting online - https://www.wirral.gov.uk/environmental-problems/street-care-and-cleaning/dog-fouling