Denbighshire smokers ‘more likely to face a fine than those who leave dog mess on the streets’

A councillor has asked whether an enforcement company brought in to tackle dog mess in a county is going for easy money from smokers.

Denbighshire council figures show cigarette smokers are still more likely to face a fine than those who leave dog mess on the streets.
Private company District Enforcement were drafted in by Denbighshire council in December to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to dog walkers who don’t pick up their animals’ fouling, let their dogs off the lead in prohibited spaces, or walk them where they’re not supposed to.
The company was also tasked with issuing PCNs to litter louts.
While it’s still early days, Denbighshire councillor Rhys Thomas, who represents Denbigh Lower, wants to know whether smokers are being targeted already.
Figures given to a Denbighshire council scrutiny committee showed 147 PCNs were issued by District Enforcement in the county between December 4, 2019, when the contract started, and January 22 this year.
Of those, seven were issued for dog fouling, 12 for walking dogs in exclusion zones and three for letting dogs off leads in the wrong areas – around 15% of all fines.
By contrast, 113 were issued for dropping cigarette or cigar ends in public.
Combined with those people caught smoking in smoke-free places or vehicles, it amounts to 80% of all PCNs issued. Five people were fined for other types of littering.
Cllr Thomas said: “Are officers concentrating on the easy job of prosecuting smokers in order to produce more income – all of which they can keep?”
District Enforcement were approached for comment but did not respond.
The previous contract, held by Kingdom Security, ended in acrimony after widespread public complaints and accusations that they had picked easier targets like smokers.
For every PCN issued, Kingdom Security received around 60% of the £75 fine, amassing more than £160,000 from Denbighshire residents in 2017-18 alone.
Critics said the contract encouraged the company to write tickets rather than take preventative and educational measures against council tax payers.
When District Enforcement was engaged to tackle dog fouling, Cllr Thomas and his Denbigh colleague Cllr Glenn Swingler voiced opposition, as the contract notice on the Welsh Government’s tender website bore a striking resemblance to the remit and reward offered previously.
It said: “The project aim is specifically, but not exclusively, to tackle dog fouling and dog control whilst having regard to all other environmental crimes referred to in the specification.
“This is a concession contract where the contractor will retain a percentage of monies accrued from settled fines.”
When taking up the contract, District Enforcement’s Warren Hodson promised “a lot of focus on dog fouling”.
The company also promised public engagement to “educate” on the dangers of dog fouling.
A spokesman for Denbighshire council said dog fouling was a priority and added: “Officers from District Enforcement are working closely with the public and local members to identity those who are offending to bring about successful fixed penalty notices.
“We have had feedback from the public which is supportive of the enforcement activity taking place in areas identified as dog fouling hot spots.”

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter