FIFE COUNCIL has been upping the fight against irresponsible dog owners.

The Environmental Enforcement Team are using a mobile CCTV unit in dog fouling and littering hotspots to catch offenders.

Councillor Pat Callaghan, executive spokesperson for environment and transportation, explained, “Dog fouling is blighting our communities and is passing on disease to our children.

“The council is taking this action to raise awareness of the problem and to encourage dog walkers that with just a little bit extra care this problem could be overcome.” Elaine Devine, service manager (enforcement and commercial operations), said, “We recently used the mobile CCTV unit in Kirkcaldy and in just one day we issued 14 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling and littering.

“Just to clarify, our aim here is not to issue large numbers of fixed penalty notices, but it is to let people know that dog fouling is not acceptable and must be stopped.” The council is encouraging all dog walkers in Fife to ‘Grab it, Bag it and Bin it’. As long as the dog waste is suitably bagged it can go in any bin. People can also help by reporting any instances of dog fouling to the council on 03451 55 00 22.

Councillor Callaghan added, “If you get caught not clearing up after your dog, you could receive a £40 fine.

“Everyone can help, by reporting instances of dog fouling to the council – information that helps us to identify an offender and the best time to catch them walking their dog would be very useful.

“If we all do our bit, we can clean up Fife.” The council say it’s imperative that the community come forward with details of offenders.

The authority can serve fixed penalty notices based on the evidence provided by a reliable witness – the offence does not need to be witnessed by a council officer.

Even if a witness is not willing to come forward with a statement, information that helps the council to identify an offender and the best time to catch them walking their dog in the park would be very useful.

The officers could spend two hours in a park and not see any offence being committed, only for the offending dog owner to turn up 10 minutes after they have left.

The mobile CCTV unit was used throughout Fife including Duloch Park in Dunfermline.