Belfast Council is to sharply increase its fines for dog fouling, with new penalties reaching two and a half times the current level.
Elected members at a Belfast City Council committee meeting have voted to raise maximum fines for dog owners from £80 to £200, and the reduced rate from £80 to £100. Sinn Féin were the only party to oppose the change.
The reduced penalty is given to those who pay within 10 days.
The decision in Belfast follows a change in regulations at all local authorities which came into effect last December. The new regulations, covering people who litter, dog owners who fail to clean up their pet, and who fail to put a dog on a lead in designated areas, specify penalties will not be less than £50 and not more than £200.
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In February, the neighbouring Ards and North Down Borough Council raised maximum fines for dog owners and litterers from £80 to £200, and the reduced rate from £80 to £150.
Sinn Féin Councillor Micheal Donnelly said: “We are not in favour of the increase in the fines, simply because we think the focus needs to be put on staff resourcing. You can increase the fine to a thousand pounds, but it’s really about catching the owner and the dog in the act. The priority should be around doing an audit to see if we can scope out more staff."
Existing legislation provides councils with powers to introduce control orders for specific scenarios concerning canines. In Belfast, control orders cover dog fouling and the maximum number of dogs that can be walked by one person. There are none covering dogs on leads, and as such no fines may be imposed on dogs without leads, despite public parks displays signs advising leash walking.