Aberdeen hires private wardens to issue £80 fines for dog fouling and littering, a first for Scotland.
Locals wanted more action because they disliked dog poop on paths and grass. People also carelessly tossed trash. NES already works with other UK councils where they handle parking and environmental rules.
Ian Yuill, a council co-leader, said people are annoyed. Litter and dog mess cause problems. Dog waste hurts kids, while litter looks bad and harms wildlife and pollutes. Everyone must help care for the city.
Dog owners get an £80 fine for ignoring their dog’s mess. This fee rises to £100 past 28 days. Wardens and the NES team will use tech to issue fines on the spot for littering and dog fouling.
Wardens can also fine for illegal dumping and safety officers will investigate deeply. The council has an SNP and Lib Dem group. Christian Allard, who also leads the council, said the message is still the same: clean up after pets, and use bins or take trash home.
Dog poop grew into a big Scottish problem. A 2003 law gives police power to address it, covering public areas like streets, parks, and fields. Guide dogs and farms have some leeway.
A standard fine is £80 in Scotland, but becomes £100 if delayed past 28 days. Council wardens usually give the fines out. More people have dogs since the pandemic began, as working from home increased dog ownership.
Last year, Gavin Horsburgh spoke up, wanting a law change to keep dogs off football fields. Games got canceled sometimes and coaches had to pick up dog poop. He stated that it was disgusting.