The Constables’ Committee has launched a consultation on littering and anti-fouling measures and is asking Islanders for their opinions on how low-level anti-social offences should be dealt with.
- Havre des Pas
- Jardin d’Olivet
- La Pouquelaye
- Noirmont Point
- Portelet Common
- Ouaisne Common
- Queen’s Valley Reservoir
- Rue des Près footpath
- St Ouen’s sand dunes
- St Catherine’s Woods[/breakout]
Dog mess DNA profiling would involve keeping a dog DNA database so authorities could test faeces found around the Island to identify the animal and its owner.
A survey in 2014 revealed that Islanders felt there was a high level of cleanliness in general in Jersey.
However, the committee says that littering and dog mess remain a great concern for Islanders, who regularly contact their parish representatives about the subjects.
A 2011 review by the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel found that existing legislation was sufficient, but called on the States and parish authorities to work together to enforce and prioritise existing regulations that attempt to curb low-level offences such as littering and failing to clean up dog mess.
The committee has now issued a consultation paper to ask how people can be discouraged from littering and dissuaded from leaving dog faeces on the ground.
St Clement Constable Len Norman, the chairman of the Constables’ Committee, said: ‘It is important that any changes to legislation take into account a wide range of opinions and experiences.
‘So if you have a view, please respond to the consultation.’
He added that the paper was available to view here.
Options set out by the consultation include introducing fixed-penalty charges for offences, a DNA database for the profiling of dog mess, further public awareness campaigns and appointing more ‘authorised officers’ – police or specially appointed States or parish workers who have the power to request the name and address of any member of the public who has committed a breach of the law in a park or on a beach.
A survey on strengthening the Island’s response to littering and dog mess can be completed online at parish.gov.je and will close at the end of the year.
- There are more than 7,500 licenced dogs in Jersey
- Each dog produces 79.5 grams of poo a day. That’s 221 metric tons (35,000 stone) per year
- The neospora parasite in dog poo causes abortion in cattle, which costs Jersey Dairy £20,000 per year
- The parks and gardens team provide 1,000 emergency dog poo bags every month
- The UK Environmental Protection Agency classifies dog poo as a dangerous pollutant
- Parasites found in dog poo include neospora, hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms, salmonella and roundworm
- Roundworm and neospora eggs remain active in the soil long after dog poo has weathered away
- Roundworm can cause conditions such as stomach upsets, sore throats, asthma, and blindness
- Dog poo is one of the leading sources of E. Coli contamination
- An average size pile of poo contains 1.5 billion E.Coli bacteria[/breakout]
