With us all looking forward to enjoying lighter, warmer evenings, Gosport Borough Councils Enforcement Team are preparing to step up their campaign against those who let their dogs foul the footpath or drop litter or dump rubbish to spoil our environment.
Following a public education period the Streetscene Enforcement team started issuing fines to those caught littering; allowing dogs to foul the footway; painting graffiti or abandoning vehicles in the Borough.
But now, with the lighter evenings fast approaching, the team want to again ‘up the anti’ and introduce a new raft of procedures to ensure anti social behaviour is not allowed to spoil the environment and the enjoyment of the public throughout the summer months.
“Unfortunately those guilty of this sort of thing don’t care when or where they misbehave. Offences such as the dumping of litter or cars and graffiti are often done under the cover of darkness, so it’s important that we have officers on the ground to catch them at it,” said Stevyn Ricketts Head of Streetscene.
“For that reason, from the beginning of April we will be adjusting our working times to ensure that Enforcement Officers can be out on the streets not just from 9 to 5 but from early in the morning till late at night.”
To add to the chances of catching these offenders the Enforcement Team will also be operating in plain clothes and in unmarked vehicles.
“We really are stepping up our campaign to reduce the amount of dog fouling, rubbish dumping and other anti social behaviour which spoils the lives of ordinary people. If that means working till 11pm at night to catch the offenders, then that is what we will do, added Stevyn.”
As always intelligence plays a big part in the capture of offenders. Officers have already acted on calls received from people reporting incidents and it has been of terrific help. If you know of someone who regularly lets a dog foul the footpath, dumps rubbish or cars, or paints graffiti, then please contact the Streetscene Team FREEPHONE Tel: 08000 198598. Your call will certainly be appreciated and dealt with in the strictest of confidence.
