Dog owners across the United Kingdom are being warned they could receive an immediate £100 penalty if they are caught without proof they can clean up after their pet.
New PSPO Powers Mean Owners Must Carry Proof
Community protection experts have issued a stark reminder to the nation's millions of dog owners following a significant rise in updated Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). These orders, increasingly adopted by local authorities, now legally require owners to not only clean up after their dogs but also to carry the means to do so.
Officials from council enforcement teams, such as those from Kingdom Local Authority Support (LAS), have the authority to ask for proof that a walker is carrying poop bags. A failure to show a sufficient supply can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £100 issued on the spot. If the matter were to escalate to court, the fine could rise to a maximum of £1,000.
Councils Take Action on Dog Fouling
The move aims to tackle the persistent issue of dog fouling, which local authorities contend with thousands of times each year. Research by pet insurer Petplan indicated there were over 88,000 reported incidents between 2017 and 2021, with the true figure believed to be much higher.
John Roberts, Chief Services Officer at Kingdom LAS, advised: "Given these new rules are being increasingly adopted by councils across the country – our advice, at Kingdom, is to bring at least two bags on each dog walk." He emphasised that enforcement officers will treat a dog's waste as the owner's direct responsibility.
Areas that have already implemented or updated such PSPO rules include East Lindsey, Boston in Lincolnshire, Canterbury, Westmorland and Furness, Merthyr Tydfil, and parts of London like Hammersmith and Fulham. More councils are set to follow.
Common Sense Enforcement Advised
While the law mandates carrying bags, there is no statutory minimum number specified. Rushcliffe Borough Council noted there is "no set limit," but advised carrying more than enough for unforeseen circumstances.
Authorities have stressed that the rules are not intended to trap responsible owners. Malvern Hills District Council, which has enforced PSPOs for years, stated officers will take a "common-sense approach," often engaging with owners at the start of their walk in areas like park entrances. They will also consider reasonable explanations for not having bags.
Beyond bag carrying, PSPOs can also require dogs to be kept on leads in certain areas, limit the number of dogs walked by professionals, and restrict access to specific places like farmland. Local councils are required to clearly signpost where PSPOs are in force.
With new orders, such as one planned for Inner East Preston from 23 December 2025, and others under consultation in places like Reading, the message to dog owners is clear: always be prepared or risk a substantial financial penalty.
