Sunderland updates dog controls

Sunderland City Council’s updated Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which includes rules for dog walkers, has come into force.

New measures being introduced on 1 May allow the council to require dog walkers to reduce the length of a lead, to make sure the dog is under control and at heel when requested by an authorised officer, making it easier for the council to deal quickly and efficiently with the minority of dog owners who behave irresponsibly.

This joins existing powers under the previous PSPO, which include:

Exclusion of dogs from play areas, sport pitches, resort areas, dogs to be placed on leads when requested to do so by an authorised officer, and requirement for dog walkers to be able to produce a suitable means of picking up after their dog.

The PSPO gives the council powers to give a £100 fixed penalty notice to anyone who doesn’t comply with measures covered by the order.

If this is not paid within 14 days, court action can be taken which could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

The PSPO was updated after a public consultation.

Peter McIntyre, Sunderland City Council’s Executive Director of City Development, said: “We know that residents want to see more enforcement action to tackle antisocial behaviour in the city.

“The new powers coming into force on 1 May will help us clamp down on a range of anti-social behaviour which residents are concerned about and have raised with us.”