FOI request (FOIR-227409832)

Dog control

Requested Mon 13 July 2020
Responded Mon 28 September 2020

I am writing a newspaper article about dog control, focussing on dog-fouling and dangerous dogs. I am going to look at how the management of this problem has changed over time, and if there have been noticeable changes during the period of COVID 'lockdown'.

Please note:

I think the terms 'Dog Wardens' or other 'Competent Officers' should be self-explanatory, but you could use DEFRA's guidance 'Dealing with irresponsible dog ownership Practitioner's manual' published here - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/373429/dog-ownership-practitioners-manual-201411.pdf for guidance. This question is not meant to catch authorities out, but it may be that you employ Dog Wardens, but do not call them 'Dog Wardens'; so I am happy for a common-sense approach to be applied to interpretation.

I am aware that the law has changed slightly during this period - this is why I have kept these questions non-specific. Again, I think they are self explanatory.

Freedom of Information Questions

Qualifying question - is your local authority responsible for dog control? If not, please say so, and do not bother responding further (because the remaining questions do not apply to you).

A. For the period January 1 2010 to June 15 2010:

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as subsequently defined by the DEFRA guidance) were employed by your local authority?

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made?

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated?

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

5. How many owners were issued with written advice?

6. How many fines were issued?

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner?

10. How many were investigated?

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

12. How many owners were issued with written advice?

13. How many fines were issued?

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

B. For the period January 1 2015 and June 15 2015:

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as defined by the DEFRA guidance) were employed by your local authority?

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made?

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated?

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

5. How many owners were issued with written advice?

6. How many fines were issued?

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner?

10. How many were investigated?

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

12. How many owners were issued with written advice?

13. How many fines were issued?

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

C. In the period January 1 2020 to June 15 2020

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as defined by the DEFRA guidance) were employed by your local authority? Please also say if these officers were actively undertaking their duties during the lock-down period.

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made?

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated?

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

5. How many owners were issued with written advice?

6. How many fines were issued?

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner?

10. How many were investigated?

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice?

12. How many owners were issued with written advice?

13. How many fines were issued?

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts?

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts?

Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding.

A. For the period January 1 2010 to June 15 2010:

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as subsequently defined by the DEFRA guidance) were employed by your local authority? - Information not held

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made? - Information not held

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated? - Information not held

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - Information not held

5. How many owners were issued with written advice? - Information not held

6. How many fines were issued? - 34

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - Information not held

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts - Information not held

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner? - Information not held

10. How many were investigated? - Information not held

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - Information not held

12. How many owners were issued with written advice? - Information not held

13. How many fines were issued? - Information not held

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - Information not held

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts? - Information not held

B. For the period January 1 2015 and June 15 2015:

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as defined by the DEFRA guidance) were employed by your local authority? - We do not employ dog wardens we have Civil Enforcement officers who carry out a range of enforcement which includes dog controls

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made? - 595

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated? - Information not held

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - Information not held

5. How many owners were issued with written advice? - Information not held

6. How many fines were issued? - 8

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - None

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts? - None

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner? - 1

10. How many were investigated? - 1

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - None

12. How many owners were issued with written advice? - None

13. How many fines were issued? - None

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - None

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts? - None

C. In the period January 1 2020 to June 15 2020:

1. How many Dog Wardens or other 'competent officers' (as defined by the Defra guidance) were employed by your local authority? Please also say if these officers were actively undertaking their duties during the lock-down period. - We do not employ dog wardens we have Civil Enforcement officers who carry out a range of enforcement which includes dog controls

2. How many reports of dog-fouling were made? - 190

3. How many reports of dog-fouling were investigated? - Information not held

4. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - None

5. How many owners were issued with written advice? - None

6. How many fines were issued? - 2

7. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - None

8. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts? - None

9. How many reports were there of dogs acting dangerously or in an uncontrolled manner? - None

10. How many were investigated? - None

11. How many owners were issued with verbal advice? - None

12. How many owners were issued with written advice? - None

13. How many fines were issued? - None

14. How many were prosecuted in civil courts? - None

15. How many were prosecuted in criminal courts? - None