Dog owners face £1,000 fine for taking pets on certain UK beaches after key date

Dog owners could face huge fines if they take their dogs to specific UK beaches before a certain date. This is because certain public areas in England and Wales are covered by Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), and therefore have specific rules that aren’t applicable elsewhere.

These include keeping your dog on a lead, putting your dog on a lead if told to by a police officer, police community support officer or someone from the council, limiting the number of dogs you have with you, clearing up after your dog, and carrying a poop scoop and disposable bags. Additionally, some public areas will have a complete ban on dogs.

Local councils create PSPOs to target antisocial behaviour, and across the UK, dogs are kept off designated Blue Flag or main tourist beaches during the summer months to keep spaces clean and safe.

Between May 1 and September 30, owners must avoid bringing their dogs to beaches. On-the-spot fines can reach up to £100. However, refusing to pay can result in a court prosecution and a penalty of up to £1,000.

It is the duty of local councils to let the public know where PSPOs are in place. You will typically find signs informing you of one. Additionally, if the council plans to put a new one in place, a notice must be posted and published on its website.

It should inform you where the new PSPO will apply and if there’s a map, and where you can see it.

While restrictions on dogs at beaches are lifted at the end of September, dog owners should still ensure their pets do not cause public disorder.

If you have any concerns about dogs in general, you can report dangerous or out-of-control ones to the dog warden service run by your local council, or report them to your local police.

Similarly, if there is an issue with dog fouling, you can also report it to your local council, as they “must keep public areas like parks, playgrounds and pavements clear of dog mess”, as stated on GOV.UK.