Dog owners have been fined less than £300 by councils in Suffolk for dog fouling offences during the last year, according to latest figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Information provided to the EADT showed there were just four prosecutions across Suffolk covering the financial year 2022/23 and the period up to November 2023.

The figures represent a decrease on the number of fines issued across the county during the year 2021/22.

READ MORE: 27 fines issued for dog fouling in east Suffolk over five years

East Suffolk Council issued one dog fouling fine in 2022/23, totalling £80, while a further two have been issued between April and November this year, equating to £160.

However, during the financial year 2021/22, four dog owners were fined for fouling in the district, equivalent to £320.

An East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: “The vast majority of dog owners realise the importance of clearing up after their dogs and carry with them a poop scoop or bag to use for disposing of waste either when they return home or in one of the dog waste bins found across the district.

“Anyone who fails to clear up after their dog is not only liable to a fixed penalty notice but is leaving behind an unpleasant mess that is known to transmit several serious intestinal infections. A lack of nearby bins to dispose of dog waste is not a reasonable excuse for failing to clean up.

“Inconsiderate dog owners could face a fixed penalty fine of £80 or a fine of up to £1,000 upon conviction in the courts.

“Successfully issuing a fixed penalty notice relies on the evidence of a witness to connect the dog to a person at the time, and requires enough evidence to mount a prosecution should the penalty go unpaid, so it is incumbent on dog owners to take responsibility for their own actions.  

“Anyone who sees a dog owner allowing their pet to foul our streets is asked to contact customer services on 0333 016 2000. Our staff will respond to reported incidents of dog fouling affecting public land which the council has an obligation to keep clean.

"Where there is a persistent problem, officers will try to identify irresponsible dog owners.

“There are currently 21 Public Space Protection Order (PSPOs) relating to the control of dogs at locations across East Suffolk.

"A PSPO makes it an offence to fail to clear up after a dog if it fouls any land that is open to the air and to which the public have access."

Meanwhile, Ipswich Borough Council has not issued any fines during the 2022/23 period and from April to November this year.

However, during 2021/22, the number of fines issued was 'equal to or less than five' with a total value of £300.

A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said: “With dog fouling offences, enforcement action is only possible if an officer witnesses the offence at the time it takes place.

"We can and will take enforcement action where the necessary evidence is captured.”

READ MORE: New rules on dog control and fouling proposed for Ipswich parks

Babergh District Council has issued one fine for the period 2022/23 and one from April to November this year, worth £100, but did not penalise anyone for dog fouling during the financial year 2021/22.

Mid Suffolk District Council has issued no fines for dog fouling covering the period from 2021/22 to November this year.

In West Suffolk, there have not been any fines for dog fouling issued during the period from 2021/22 to November this year, although the district council does issue warning letters where there is insufficient evidence to issue a fine.

In 2021/22, 12 of these warning letters were sent regarding dog fouling, while during the year 2022/23 there were 11.

READ MORE: Suffolk news

The EADT also asked for information about action taken against dog owners who failed to keep their pets on leads in areas where Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) were in place requiring their use.

No action has been taken by any of the authorities against dog owners for breaching PSPOs in the county since 2021.