Dog fouling: Belfast City Council members vote to raise fines

Image caption, Elected members voted to raise maximum fines for dog owners from 拢80 to 拢200

Belfast Council is to sharply increase its fines for dog fouling, with new penalties reaching two and a half times the current level.

Elected members voted to raise maximum fines for dog owners from 拢80 to 拢200, and the reduced rate from 拢80 to 拢100.

Sinn F茅in was the only party to oppose the changes.

The reduced penalty is given to those who pay within 10 days and the council may bring the matter to court if the fine is not paid.

The decision in Belfast follows a change in regulations at all local authorities which came into effect last December. The new regulations, covering people who litter, dog owners who fail to clean up their pets' foul, and who fail to put a dog on a lead in designated areas, specify that penalties will not be less than 拢50 and not more than 拢200.

Councillors at the Belfast People and Communities Committee were given four options to vote on. The first was not to increase or change fines. This was proposed by Sinn F茅in, without the support of any other party.

SDLP Councillor S茅amas de Faoite successfully proposed option two - an increase to a maximum fine of 拢200 for dog fouling - which received support from all other parties.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Councillors also discussed the issue of signage for dog owners

Option three proposed an increase of "anything from 拢90 - 拢190, with any level of reduction" if paid within 10 days.

The fourth proposal, from Green Councillor Anthony Flynn, was voted down by Sinn F茅in and the DUP. It proposed applying any changes made to the fixed penalty limits for dog fouling offences to also cover littering offences.

Belfast's fixed penalty fine for littering is currently 拢80, reduced to 拢60 if paid within 10 days.

Explaining his party's stance on this issue, Sinn F茅in councillor Michael Donnelly said: "We think the focus needs to be put on staff resourcing. You can increase the fine to 拢1,000, but it's really about catching the owner and the dog in the act."

Mr Donnelly also said there was a need for better signage.

"The signs that are currently up across the city, and I can only speak for my area, are not impactful. They are not in the right locations," he said.