Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO)

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Consultation has concluded

Maidstone is home to thousands of the responsible dog owners who exercise their pets across the borough. In addition, our parks and open spaces also attract dog owners from further afield. Unfortunately, not all dog owners are responsible and it has long been felt that irresponsible dog ownership is not limited to whether an owner cleans up after their dog.

In order to encourage responsible dog ownership, our existing Public Space Protection Order for Dog Control outlines a number of measures to protect our public spaces and the community. Every three years we are required to review our Public Space Protection Orders and to consult with our residents and partners on the measures proposed. The measures we propose to continue or introduce, which are explained in more detail within the survey, are as follows:

Current Measures & Requirements

  • Measure 1 - The offence of dog fouling including a requirement for persons in charge of a dog on public land to remove their dogs faeces.
  • Measure 2 - Exclusion of dogs from all children’s play areas, whether they are fenced or open, play areas, and tennis courts.
  • Measure 3 – Keep dogs on leads at both the Sutton Road Cemetery and at the Vinters Park Crematorium .
  • Measure 4 - The requirement for a person in charge of a dog to comply with a request from an authorised officer to put a dog on a lead when the dog is causing danger or concern.
  • Measure 5- The offence of failing to keep a dog under proper control, such as harming other animals or straying.
  • Requirement for a person to give their name and address to an authorised officer when requested to do so.
  • A fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100, the maximum laid out in the legislation, for all the measures .

Changes to measures

  • Introduce a new measure requiring those in charge of a dog to able demonstrate means of removing faeces (carry a bag or equivalent) .
  • Extend measure 3, the requirement to keep dogs on leads, to cover Maidstone Town Centre.
  • Introduce a new measure limiting on the number of dogs walked by one person at any one time.

All measures create criminal offences, which can be prosecuted in a Magistrate’s Court or can be disposed of by way of Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.

These measures would not apply to accredited working guide or assistance dogs.

How can I get involved?

Survey - Click here to start the survey (opens in a new window).

Survey closes: 6 August 2023.

Survey takes 6 to 8 minutes to complete.

What next?

The results of this survey will inform if the current measures will be continued and if any new measures should be introduced, with a decision due to made on 7 September 2023 by the Housing and Environment Committee.

Maidstone is home to thousands of the responsible dog owners who exercise their pets across the borough. In addition, our parks and open spaces also attract dog owners from further afield. Unfortunately, not all dog owners are responsible and it has long been felt that irresponsible dog ownership is not limited to whether an owner cleans up after their dog.

In order to encourage responsible dog ownership, our existing Public Space Protection Order for Dog Control outlines a number of measures to protect our public spaces and the community. Every three years we are required to review our Public Space Protection Orders and to consult with our residents and partners on the measures proposed. The measures we propose to continue or introduce, which are explained in more detail within the survey, are as follows:

Current Measures & Requirements

  • Measure 1 - The offence of dog fouling including a requirement for persons in charge of a dog on public land to remove their dogs faeces.
  • Measure 2 - Exclusion of dogs from all children’s play areas, whether they are fenced or open, play areas, and tennis courts.
  • Measure 3 – Keep dogs on leads at both the Sutton Road Cemetery and at the Vinters Park Crematorium .
  • Measure 4 - The requirement for a person in charge of a dog to comply with a request from an authorised officer to put a dog on a lead when the dog is causing danger or concern.
  • Measure 5- The offence of failing to keep a dog under proper control, such as harming other animals or straying.
  • Requirement for a person to give their name and address to an authorised officer when requested to do so.
  • A fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £100, the maximum laid out in the legislation, for all the measures .

Changes to measures

  • Introduce a new measure requiring those in charge of a dog to able demonstrate means of removing faeces (carry a bag or equivalent) .
  • Extend measure 3, the requirement to keep dogs on leads, to cover Maidstone Town Centre.
  • Introduce a new measure limiting on the number of dogs walked by one person at any one time.

All measures create criminal offences, which can be prosecuted in a Magistrate’s Court or can be disposed of by way of Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.

These measures would not apply to accredited working guide or assistance dogs.

How can I get involved?

Survey - Click here to start the survey (opens in a new window).

Survey closes: 6 August 2023.

Survey takes 6 to 8 minutes to complete.

What next?

The results of this survey will inform if the current measures will be continued and if any new measures should be introduced, with a decision due to made on 7 September 2023 by the Housing and Environment Committee.