Boots on ground as council cracks down on dog poo

Enforcement officers have taken to the streets of Sheffield to hand out fines for littering and dog poo.

Sheffield City Council said in December it needed a "strong response" to a minority of dog owners who failed to pick up after their pets - and boots are now on the ground.

The one-year pilot scheme is a tie-up with City of Doncaster Council, which is providing the service through its contract with Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE).

Offenders in Sheffield face spot fines of up to £200 for littering and £50 for dog fouling, with dedicated officers freeing up council environmental staff to focus on their wider duties.

The council used to rely on temporary and agency staff to carry out litter enforcement but budget pressures and the significant cost of processing fines meant the authority had to explore other options.

Richard Eyre, director of street scene and regulation, said: "Residents rightly expect clean streets, parks and neighbourhoods, and most people take pride in their local area.

"Unfortunately, a small minority continue to spoil our city by dropping litter or failing to clean up after their dogs.

"This new partnership means people will see more enforcement officers out in communities across Sheffield.

"Their role is to tackle these offences, issue fines where appropriate and help make it clear that littering and dog fouling will not be tolerated.

"By increasing our enforcement activity, we can create a cleaner and more welcoming environment for everyone."

WISE provides similar services to more than 40 local authorities across the country, including Doncaster and Rotherham.

Residents can continue to report littering, fly-tipping and other environmental issues on the council's website.

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