Denbighshire hires Xfor
over litter
and dog mess
Denbighshire
council said offenders could be issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice
A private security firm has been hired by a third Welsh council to
enforce fines against dog owners who fail to pick up their pets and people who
litter.
Denbighshire council said Xfor enforcement staff would be kitted out
with video cameras, to patrol hotspot areas.
It said offenders could be issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice.
Blaenau Gwent and Vale of Glamorgan council already use Xfor.
Between October last year and July the firm handed out more than 1,000
fines in Blaenau Gwent.
It was the first authority in Wales to use a private contractor to back
up its policy of fining people who drop litter, or dog walkers who fail to pick
up their pet's mess.
Denbighshire council's cabinet member for environment, David Smith, said
dog fouling and littering were two of the most common complaints in the county.
"Not only is dog fouling a health hazard, it blights the environment in
communities across the authority and now is the time to tackle the issue
robustly”
David SmithDenbighshire
council
"It was highlighted in our latest residents survey as one of the
most pressing issues in communities," he said.
"Not only is dog fouling a health hazard, it blights the
environment in communities across the authority and now is the time to tackle
the issue robustly.
"We will be looking to engage with communities, educate people on
the need to clear up after their dogs and make it much easier for people to
report through a free phone number and social media as well as the more
traditional methods of making a complaint."
'Anti-social behaviour'
The council said using Xfor would cost the authority nothing, but the
firm would take a percentage of what it received from issuing fixed penalty
notices.
In the coming weeks, Denbighshire will be distributing flyers, guides,
posters and postcards to inform people about the new scheme.
Councillor Smith added: "We hope residents will get fully behind
this campaign and help reduce this anti-social behaviour once and for all,
ensuring Denbighshire is one of the cleanest greenest counties in Wales."
