A Cramlington couple Teresa and Stephen Hipkin,  have been fined in two separate cases relating to littering and dog fouling in a residential part of the town. 
 

Teresa Hipkin was fined for failing to pick up after her dog after it fouled in a residential street in Cramlington while her husband Stephen was fined for leaving a bag of dog faeces on the ground. 
 

On the 6th December 2022 Teresa Hipkin was observed walking her two Jack Russell dogs. She allowed one of the dogs to foul on the land at  Monkside in Cramlington walking away from the area and making no attempt to pick up the dog faeces. 
 

The offence (a failure to comply with a requirement under a Public Spaces Protection Order made by Northumberland County Council contrary to section 67(1)(b) and (2) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014) was reported to the county council’s Animal Welfare Officer who obtained evidence confirming the offence had taken place. 
 

A Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to Teresa Hipkin offering an opportunity to discharge liability to prosecution for the offence by paying £100, reduced to £80 if paid within 7 days. The Fixed Penalty Notice remained unpaid and therefore the Court imposed a higher financial penalty of £220, costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £88 for failing to clear up after her dog. 
 

In October 2022 Stephen Hipkin was observed depositing a bag of dog faeces on the ground at the corner of  Monkside in Cramlington where it was left. The offence of littering is contrary to Section 87(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  
 

The offence was reported to the council’s animal welfare team who confirmed the offence had taken place. 
 

A Fixed Penalty Notice was issued to Mr Hipkin offering an opportunity to discharge liability to prosecution for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of £80 in 14 days or £65 if paid in 7 days.  
 

As the Fixed Penalty Notice remained unpaid, the Court imposed a financial penalty of £220, costs £100 and a victim surcharge of £88. 
 

Northumberland County Councillor Colin Horncastle, Cabinet Member with responsibility for community services said: 

“Part of being a responsible dog owner is cleaning up after them and we are lucky so many of our residents do just that.  No-one wants our beautiful green spaces to be tainted by dog mess and we all want to be able to walk on our streets and in our public places without encountering dog fouling. 
 

“There is no excuse for it and we will continue to find and fine offenders. 
 

 “We hope these prosecutions help to get the message across that it is every dog owner’s responsibility to pick up after their dog and put the bagged mess in a bin.”