A BLITZ on fog-fouling has started in Rosyth.

The campaign was launched in Rosyth last week in response to a high level of complaints of dog-fouling and littering, and follows a successful pilot project in the Dunfermline area.

Safer Community Officers have increased patrols in the area and will be enforcing the council’s tough stance by issuing fines.

The initiative includes the use of signs, banners and pavement stencils on the streets and parks identified as hotspots to raise awareness. 

It is an offence not to dispose of the excrement when your dog fouls in a public place and the fixed penalty is £80.

In 2016, Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued 47 times in Dunfermline and five times in South West Fife.

On 46 occasions, fines were given for littering and once for dog-fouling in Dunfermline. In South West Fife, notices were given four times for littering and once for dog-fouling.

In comparison to figures in 2015, littering offences rose by 12 in Dunfermline and saw a reduction of four in South West Fife.

The numbers for dog-fouling remained the same in South West Fife, with Dunfermline seeing four less offences than in 2015.

FPNs for dog-fouling remain low despite a significant increase in the number of patrols being undertaken to address the issue.

Councillor John Wincott, executive spokesperson for environment and transportation, said: “Fife is a beautiful region and we want to keep it that way. We’re working had to improve the quality of life in our communities.

“We know the majority of residents take a real pride in their area but we’re targeting a small group of people who act irresponsibly and we’re asking them to ‘Just bin it’.”

Police are encouraging local people to get in touch if dog-fouling is an issue affecting your area, and have asked families to inform them of where and when to catch the culprits.

The following areas are identified as hotspots: Aberlour Street, Admiralty Road, Castle Road, Castlandhill Road, Craig Street, Findlay Street, Granville Way, Harley Street, Hudson Street, Kings Crescent, Kings Place, Kings Road, Norval Place, Park Road (and park), Parkgate, Parkside Street and Ridley Drive.

Tesco Metro in Rosyth has joined the ‘Just Bin It’ campaign encouraging dog owners to bin their dog mess.

Daniel Moczynski, Tesco duty manager, said: “Tesco are happy to support this worthy initiative.”

The Safer Communities Team also help to support community groups who wish to carry out a clean-up of their areas by providing them with the necessary equipment needed to tackle the issues of littering and dog-fouling.