Dogs in Haringey must be kept on a lead on all public streets after April 1 when Dog Control Orders come into force after feedback from residents.

The subject of responsible dog ownership has been discussed on this forum before - and we also covered the launch of  Haringey council's consultation on Dogs in parks - the new regulations have now been published.

The Dog Control Orders, introduced by the council,  stipulate that dogs will be banned from all children's playgrounds and from marked pitches when being used, but dogs can still walk off lead in most of the boroughs parks. Any breach of an order can lead to an £80 penalty or a £1,000 fine.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Nilgun Canver, said: "This move follows extensive consultation with residents prompted by complaints about unruly dogs and dog mess in parks and other public spaces. "We wanted to find a sensible balance that would exclude dogs from where they clearly should not be, but which allows responsible dog walkers to exercise and enjoy their pet freely. I think we have struck the right balance and hope this means that parents with children can enjoy playgrounds while dog walkers enjoy our open spaces."

These are not "on-the-spot" fines. An authorised officer will issue a notice with details of where and how the penalty can be paid, much the same as a parking ticket. The Dog Control Orders relating to each park will be clearly signposted at the park entrances.

The orders say:

• it's an offence to not clean up after a dog anywhere in the borough
• unruly dogs in any area must be put on leads when told to do this by an authorised officer
• dogs must be on leads on roads, in communal public areas on housing estates, publicly accessible land, cemeteries, car parks and some smaller parks (less than half a hectare—about the size of a football pitch)
• one person is limited to walking six dogs at a time
• dogs are excluded from all children's playgrounds and areas with marked pitches when they are in use (ie a football/cricket match is taking place)

Enforcement will be by police, council officers and some Homes for Haringey officers who will be authorised to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) for any breaches. Once an Order is in place, the penalty for committing an offence is a maximum fine of £1,000 or a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80. Failing to pay the fine may lead to prosecution. 

Details are on the Haringey website at www.haringey.gov.uk/dogcontrol.

Picture above from LB Haringey shows Cllr Nilgun Canver at the children's playground in Ducketts Common with the sign which will be erected outside all the borough's playgrounds.