LEGISLATION on dog control in the city has been extended for another three years.
The city council ran a public consultation earlier this year, from June to July, asking whether people agree with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) on dog control.
The PSPO means the council can take enforcement action against anyone who doesn’t pick up after their dog; if they refuse to put their dog on a lead when asked to do so by an authorised council officer; or if they take their dog into an enclosed area where it is not allowed, such as a ball court, skatepark or fenced children’s play area.
The legislation needs to be renewed every three years, and was due to run out at the end of November 2025. The council therefore ran a consultation asking people if they agree with extending the PSPO for another three years - and also if they agreed with some variations to the enclosed areas where dogs are not allowed.
A total of 336 responses were submitted, nearly all from members of the public. Responses were highly supportive, with 93 per cent of respondents in favour of extending the PSPO on dog fouling, 84 per cent for dogs on leads and 84 per cent for dog exclusion areas.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, who leads on regulatory services, said: “I’m very pleased that we will be able to continue to use these powers to ensure that dog owners behave responsibly – something which the vast majority of them already do.
“Picking up after your dog and ensuring it is under control is something every dog owner must do. Our consultation results show overwhelming public support for this.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy our parks and open spaces safely and responsibly, and that means not allowing dogs in some areas, such as children’s playgrounds and enclosed ball courts. We have added some new areas to this list, for example where we have refurbished ball courts and created a new skate park.
“However, we do still have more than 120 parks, gardens, and open spaces within the city where you can exercise your dog.”
Leicestershire police has also supported the continued use of the PSPO powers within the consultation, alongside animal welfare agencies.
A new order extending the PSPO will be made shortly. The PSPO covers the whole city, and will run until 30 November 2028. A fixed penalty notice of £100 applies to irresponsible dog ownership.
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