Dog Control Orders/bye-laws Fines & prosecutions

Message from Mandy Weir, Performance Officer

Dear Mr Figg

Thank you for your request for information about dog control. Your
request was received on 26 October 2009 and I am dealing with it under the
terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me.

Yours sincerely

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|| |Mandy Weir |
|| |Performance Officer |
|| |Dover District Council |
|| |Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover CT16 |
|| |3PJ |
|| | |
|| |Tel: 01304 872318 |
|| |Fax: 01304 872300 |
|| |Email: [1][email address] |
|| |Web: [2]www.dover.gov.uk |
|| | |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|P Please consider the environment before printing this email |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Dear Mr Figg

I am writing in respect of your enquiry for information held by this Authority received on 26 October 2009 and to confirm that we have completed the search for the information that you requested. You were seeking information regarding dog control within our District. Please find detailed below the questions you raise with our response against each one.

The number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued by your council, for offences under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005, Dog Control Orders

1.failing to remove dog faeces -

2.not keeping a dog on a lead

3.not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer

4.permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded

5.taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land

Dover District Council have not adopted Dog Control Orders under the CNEA 2005 so the answer to all of the above is none.

If you have not made Dog Control Orders please give details of the number of Fixed Penalty Notices or fines issued by your council, for any of the above offences under the The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and any other relevant legislation, bye-laws etc.

During the 12 months periods:

* 1st. October 2006 until 30th September 2007 5

* 1st. October 2007 until 30th September 2008 10

* 1st. October 2008 until 30th September 2009 6

Together with a breakdown, for each year, of the following:

1. The specific offence each FPN/fine was issued for.

All Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for the offence of 'Failing to pick up faeces after dog had fouled'

2. Whether the issuing of individual FPNs/fines were contested, either as an appeal to the council, to the LGO or in court. And an indication of the outcome, successful or otherwise.

2006-2007 3 contested, 1 cancelled after appeal to DDC & 2 paid after appeal to DDC

2007-2008 2 contested & paid after appeal to DDC

2008-2009 1 contested & paid after appeal to DDC

3. The amount of prosecutions brought by the council for dog fouling or any of the offences listed above. With details of whether these were for repeat offences or for first time offences. And an indication of the outcome, successful or otherwise, of that action.

1 prosecution, first offence, found guilty in his absence. £50 fine. £150 costs.

4. The number of FPNs/fines issued for dog fouling or any of the offences listed above that went unpaid, along with details of subsequent action taken. And an indication of the outcome, successful or otherwise, from that subsequent action.

2006-2007 1 ticket cancelled after Dog Warden unable to show offender where exactly the dog had fouled

2007-2008 2 tickets cancelled, unable to verify address given by offenders, letters sent and visits made by Dog Warden

2008-2009 2 tickets cancelled, false addresses given, letters sent but unable to trace offenders

Also the number of dog wardens (including the senior dog warden) employed by the council during these three periods.

2 Dog Wardens, both employed by contractor - Animal Wardens

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me

I hope you find the information enclosed useful but if, for whatever reason, you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you are entitled to pursue any dissatisfaction through the Council's Complaints Procedure.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Mandy Weir
Performance Officer
Dover District Council
Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3PJ

Tel: 01304 872318
Fax: 01304 872300
Email: [email address]
Web: www.dover.gov.uk

P Please consider the Environment before printing this email

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