§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for allowing their dogs to foul pubic footpaths in Northern Ireland. [HL4383]
§ Baroness AmosDistrict councils in Northern Ireland are responsible for taking enforcement action against those who allow their dogs to foul in public places under the provisions of the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994. Such action can involve issuing fixed penalty notices or taking summary proceedings against offenders in the courts. I understand that issuing fixed penalties is more likely to be the form of action taken by councils.
The department does not routinely collect or hold information about the number of prosecutions taken by district councils. It is considered that the action required contacting all 26 district councils to obtain the information sought would only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.