Dog Enforcement

All dog owners should be aware of the laws relating to dog ownership. There are many different laws relating to dogs covering everything from owning an illegal breed, keeping dogs under proper control and fouling.

Public Spaces Protection Order

Erewash Borough Council has had three Dog Control Orders in place since 2013. The first relating to dogs fouling on land which was a borough wide Order. The second required dogs on a lead in certain areas (cemeteries) and the third was a dog exclusion order which excluded dogs from certain gated and fenced play areas within the borough. These three Orders were made under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

In 2014, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act was enacted, bringing together a range of existing powers designated to tackle a wide range of anti-social behaviour. It created a new Public Spaces Protection Order power, and repealed a number of other pieces of legislation including section 55 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Like the previous legislation, PSPOs are intended to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a particular public area that was identified to be detrimental to the communities’ quality of life.

A public area is defined as any place which the public have access to. A PSPO imposes conditions on the use of the particular area covered by the Order and can be in force for up to three years unless extended. They can also be varied or discharged.

Under the Public Spaces Protection Order it is an offence if:

  • an authorised council officer gives direction to the person in charge of a dog to put a dog on a lead and they fail to comply
  • a dog defecates and the person in charge of the dog fails to remove the faeces
  • a dog is permitted to enter land from which they are excluded – dogs are not allowed in children’s play areas and sports facilities which are enclosed by a boundary fence or similar
  • a dog is off lead in a designated area where dogs must be kept on a lead – in all cemeteries across the borough.

If you commit an offence you may receive a fixed penalty notice which is subject to a fine of £100. The details and locations relating to the PSPO can be obtained by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 0115 9072244.

Dangerous dogs

Dangerous dogs are dealt with by Derbyshire police. All reports of incidents involving dangerous dogs should be reported to the police immediately by calling 101.