Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

More than half of dog poo fines in Fife unpaid

Some 19 fines were issued by the council in the last year but only seven were paid.

Most fines are not being paid. Image: Kris Miller/DC Thomson
Most fines are not being paid. Image: Kris Miller/DC Thomson

The locations of dog walkers caught leaving poo behind in Fife have been revealed.

Nineteen fines were issued in the kingdom last year, from Kincardine to Auchtermuchty, but only seven were paid.

Data obtained by The Courier reveal where the culprits were caught.

They also show 126 fixed penalty notices have been issued in the last five years, but only 56 were paid.

Where were the fines issued?

In the last year fines were issued in the following locations:

  • Stupart Road Kincardine
  • Kenmount Place, Kennoway (two fines)
  • Ravencraig Park, Kirkcaldy
  • Blairadam Park, Kelty
  • Old School House, Dewar Street, Dunfermline
  • Maxis Bank, Buckhaven
  • Lochty Avenue, Kinglassie
  • Robert Smith Court, Lumphinnans
  • School Brae, Dysart
  • Harriet Street, Kirkcaldy
  • Wood Stock Court, Glenrothes
  • Burgh Court, Lochgelly
  • Leslie, Glenrothes
  • Ravenscraig Park, Kirkcaldy
  • Street Record, Kirkcaldy
  • Pitmeddan Wynd, Auchtermuchty (two fines)
  • Earn Road Footpath, Kirkcaldy
Blairadam Forest in Kelty is a popular spot for dog walkers. Image: Forestry Commission/Steve Brown.

The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act was published in 2003 as a way to protect members of the public from abandoned dog waste left on streets and roads.

Both police and authorised council staff can issue a fixed penalty notice of £80.

In Tayside similarly low numbers were found.

Neighbouring Dundee City Council issued 10 fines last year but only received three payments.

In Perth and Kinross, five fixed penalty notices were dished out but only one was paid, while in Angus 16 charges were issued and seven payments collected.

Fighting back against dog poo in Fife

Dawn Jamieson, Fife Council’s safer communities manager, said: “Dog fouling is an observable offence so to be able to issue a fixed penalty we have to witness the act taking place, or have members of the public willing to give a formal statement to enable us to take any action.

“We also need to know the identity of the individual in charge of the dog at the time the offence takes place to be able to issue a fixed penalty.

“The fixed penalty notice is £80 and increases if unpaid after 28 days.

“If the fine remains unpaid, Fife Council can take steps to recover the debt.

“Dog waste can be disposed of in any public general waste bin.

“If you see someone failing to clean up after their dog and would like to report it, it can be reported to a local councillor who can pass on the information in confidence.

“If anyone has information on who may be responsible, please report it at fife.gov.uk/dogfouling, giving as much information as possible, or call 03451 550022.”

Conversation