No fixed penalty notices have been handed out to Lambeth residents who let their dogs foul the pavement.

Statistics obtained by the borough’s Liberal Democrats show no penalties were handed out in 2008/09, and none have been handed out so far this year.

In 2006/07, four notices were given while the following year just two were handed out.

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Streatham, Chris Nicholson, slammed the council for failing to enforce the fouling laws.

He said: “Time and time again residents raise with me the health hazards caused by dog fouling on public footpaths.

“Residents in roads which lead to parks, like Barcombe Avenue in Streatham Hill and Drewstead Road in Streatham are particularly badly affected.”

Update:

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: "We take a robust approach on this but issuing penalties is only one way of tackling dog mess and last year we focussed less on dishing out fines and more on education and promoting responsible pet ownership, handing out more than 1,500 free poop-a-scoops and leaflets to dog owners across the borough.

“This year we are getting tougher on the very small minority of irresponsible owners who let their dogs foul, and are undertaking at least two enforcement operations a month in hot spot areas.

"We are also working closely with the police to tackle this problem and send a very clear message to irresponsible dog owners that it is not acceptable to let their dogs foul without picking it up.

"However, we find the overwhelming majority of dog owners are responsible and clear up after their pets, and actually, Lambeth streets have just been independently judged to be cleaner than at any time since current records began six years ago, a real achievement which doesn’t suggest that dog fouling is on the rise.”

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