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Spy cam bid to catch culprits

Jonathon Dillon
3/ 3/2005

A HYNDBURN businessman is making a last-ditch bid to banish dog dirt from his street with the help of a spy camera.

Dave Pickup, 57, has taken the drastic action after Brisbane Street and Atlas Street in Clayton-le-Moors became magnets for dog mess.

And he has even offered to fork out his own money to hire dog warden Steve Wood for the day to patrol the worst-hit areas.

He said: "I have put a camera up on the side of my house. I live on the gable end of a row of terraces and the corners act like magnets for dogs.

"I go out jogging and always have to look at the ground as it is covered with dog dirt.

"I want to name and shame these people. It is disgusting.

"There are no dog bins in this area at all. Even if there were I doubt people would use them.

"I go running next to the canal and people put the mess in plastic bags and throw it over the fences."

Dave, 57, of Brisbane Street, who lives with his wife Sue, would like to see stiffer penalties and more patrols by the dog warden.

The manager for an aerospace firm added: "I sent an e-mail to the council and said I wanted to hire the dog warden for one day a week just to patrol the street.

"He could wear a fluorescent jacket so these people could see him and he could be a visible presence.

"It's just like the police - the dog warden is never there when you need him.

"I spoke to Steve and he said he had issued 14 fixed penalty notices in the borough since January. What we should be doing is naming and shaming these people in newspapers, just like people who don't pay TV licences.

"I looked on the Internet and it said there are 6.8 million dogs and they produce 900 tons of mess every day.

"I would employ somone on YTS or a pensioner and kit them out.

"I would pay them a nominal fee to do this and I would urge people to report these dog owners as it could cause health problems."

In response to Mr Pickup's plea, dog warden Steve Wood said he would put extra patrols in the area over the next few weeks.