SELFISH dog owners could be faced with a £100 fine if they don’t pick up their canine’s poo as council approves new public space protection order (PSPO).

A majority of Royal Borough councillors voted in favour of a borough-wide ban of dog fouling and ‘ineffective’ control of dogs at a full council meeting on April 27.

The police and community wardens could issue £100 fines, reduced to £75 if paid within 10 days, if they spot someone refusing to or cannot pick up their dog mess or if their dog is not on a lead.

According to the report, community wardens have received ‘many reports’ of dog fouling and out of control canines.

The parks and countryside team have also called for tighter measures on these issues.

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Councillor David Cannon (Con: Datchet, Horton, and Wraysbury), lead member for public protection and parking, said this PSPO does not seek to ‘persecute’ residents but is out to ‘change behaviours’ for people to pick up their dog’s mess and keep them under control.

He said: “It is a blight on our society these dogs that are being allowed by their owners to defecate and not be picked up. It is irresponsible dog owners, not irresponsible dogs.”

The private firm District Enforcement, which enforces littering rules on behalf of the council, will be considered to enforce the new PSPO’s, Cllr Cannon said – but they would operate under the council’s policies.

This involves educating rule breakers before enforcing a fine.

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Cllr Cannon said: “We are not out to persecute our residents; we are out here to change behaviour.

“If a community warden, police officer, or District Enforcement sees someone not picking up after their dog, they will ask them to.

“If they refuse, obviously action will be taken. If they do pick-up, there’s no problem.

“If they haven’t got anything to pick it up with, then they’ll end up probably getting a fine for being irresponsible dog owners.”

The PSPO powers are expected to go into force from May 1.