Dog fouling complaints in Lisburn and Castlereagh remain just under 280, a decrease from the previous year, but enforcement does not involve CCTV footage.

At a recent council meeting, Councillor Gary Hynds said dog fouling is under reported and that he has received complaints about Wallace Park. He noted there are cameras throughout the park and asked whether they could be used to identify offenders.

The council currently monitors a CCTV system across Lisburn, Moira and Hillsborough public areas on a 24/7 basis. However, a council officer said CCTV is not used for dog fouling detection. Instead, enforcement relies on witness statements from council officers or members of the public. The officer added that if cameras were put up for this purpose, signage would be required as covert recording is not permitted.

Dog fouling is enforced with an immediate fixed penalty of £100.

Committee chairperson Sharon Skillen called dog fouling incredibly frustrating and absolutely ridiculous. Councillor Hynds suggested the council could look into using existing cameras for enforcement since there have been few prosecutions.