DOG foulers be aware: the local council are planning to put more mobile CCTV cameras on the road.
Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community Committee on Thursday last, gave their approval for the use of temporary and mobile CCTV cameras and signage in public spaces to address dog fouling and environmental littering.
The scheme, which is to be piloted in the Rosemount area up to six weeks initially, is part of a project aimed at tackling ongoing issues with dog control and littering across the Council area.
Members of the committee were informed by the Head of Health, Community and Wellbeing with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Seamus Donaghy, at their monthly meeting held in the Guildhall last week that Derry City and Strabane District Council, like most councils in Northern Ireland, receives a significant number of complaints each year regarding dog control.
In particular, it receives a significant number around dog fouling and that despite the installation of additional dog fouling bins and signage, education and enforcement initiatives, there are still significant dog fouling problems in many streets, parks and popular walkways.
He explained: “Members of the public are routinely encouraged to contact the council dog wardens with locations of fouling and any additional information that will help identify irresponsible dog owners; including particular times of the day that fouling occurs.
“There are many instances however where offenders cannot be identified or even the times of the day determined when the fouling offence occurs.
“An additional method of gathering information such as the temporary use of CCTV cameras in particular areas would be particularly useful for capturing instances of fouling occurring late at night or early in the morning.
Mr Donaghy said that the proposed mobile/temporary CCTV cameras are to be utilised in areas where dog fouling has been identified as a significant problem in the hope that it will deter environmental crime such as littering in local neighbourhoods.
He added that the cameras will be determined on the basis of observations and service requests by enforcement officers and will be positioned in suitable locations with appropriate signage so that the public are aware of their existence and purpose.
Members were advised that the cameras will be used in accordance with the Council’s Policy and Operating Procedure.
Welcoming the decision, the Chairman of the Health and Community Committee, Alderman Drew Thompson said he was pleased to see the Council stepping up its efforts to deal with littering and dog fouling and he was confident this scheme would complement the work that is already been done through raising awareness and education.
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