Dover District Council cracks down on environmental crime

Dover District Council is launching a major campaign to clamp down on environmental crimes such as littering and dog fouling, as part of their work to make the district a great place to live, work and visit.

The new campaign follows feedback from public surveys and Neighbourhood Forum meetings showing that littering and dog fouling are key concerns for residents.

As part of the campaign, a team of enforcement officers from the private sector will be patrolling the district from 1 February 2013 as part of a six-month trial. The new contractor, XFOR Local Authority Services Ltd, which has been engaged with much success by Maidstone Borough Council, Shepway District Council and other local authorities across the country, will issue fixed penalties of £75 on DDC's behalf to people who drop litter, and £50 to irresponsible dog owners.

In addition, Dover District Council is authorising a number of its officers, together with Dover Neighborhood Policing teams and Kent County Council Community Wardens to be able to record these offences whilst conducting their duties across the district.

DDC is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the impact of littering and dog fouling, before the start of the six-month trial, and will be displaying signs and posters, visiting schools and Neighbourhood Forums, and providing a detailed web page.

Roadshows are being held to provide information on the new scheme as follows:

14 January: High Street, Deal - 10am to 3pm
16 January: Market Square, Dover - 10am to 3pm
17 January: Back of the Guildhall, Sandwich - 10am to 3pm
22 January: Market Square, Dover - 10am to 3pm
24 January: High Street, Deal - 10am to 3pm.

Cllr Nicholas Kenton, DDC Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "The majority of people across the district are fed up with the actions of the minority who have no regard for their surroundings and who blatantly drop litter, walk away when their dog fouls, and think nothing of dumping rubbish wherever they wish. This important new scheme is a direct response to tackle this issue, to discourage people from committing these crimes, and to make positive improvements to the environment for the future of the district."