College Lane became known as ‘dog poo alley’

ONLY one person has been fined for not picking up their dog’s poo in 10 years, despite hundreds of complaints submitted to the council every year.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that from 2014 to December 2024 the council has issued one fine, in July 2023, to someone who didn’t pick up after their dog in Dornfell Street, West Hampstead.

The person was fined £100.

This is despite the council receiving 2,404 complaints of dog waste on the streets in the same year and 1,327 complaints the previous year.

Ruby Lawrence, who lives near Camden Square Gardens, said when she moved to Camden three years ago the first thing she noticed was “the extreme amount of dog poop on the ground”.

She told the New Journal: “I’ve got two of my own dogs, a whippet and a border terrier. I normally walk them in the neighbourhood so Cantelowes Road and around that way.

“I used to live in Bromley and I was there for 12 years and it was really good around there. Dog poo on the streets wasn’t something that I ever noticed as an issue. You just saw the odd one every now and then. So when I moved to Camden it was very noticeable, people not picking up their dog crap.”

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She added that dog turds would appear on the pavements in the morning – under the cover of darkness.

“I started to notice it would happen overnight,” Ms Lawrence said. “It would all appear in the morning. As to why I don’t know. I thought if I saw somebody I would say something but I’ve never seen it happen. I always have to be aware of where I’m walking.”

She said she was “shocked” that only one fine had been issued in a decade, but said on the other hand it made sense.

“If people are just getting away with it then they don’t have to bother,” she said. “I haven’t reported it to the council to be honest. There’s just so many. You’d be there all day; it would be a full-time job.”

Mess in College Lane

In March 2023, the New Journal spoke to victims of “dog poo alley” – a pathway called College Lane that has been historically plagued by dog fouling.

Camden Council put up signs threatening pet owners with fines but residents said this has not fixed the problem.

The council told disgruntled residents: “We have recently stepped up action against owners who do not clean up after their dog.”

Resident Carol Ceppetelli told the New Journal this week that she hasn’t seen an improvement in the dog poo in the alley since the council “stepped up”, but added she wasn’t sure how it could be improved.

She said: “A lot of people let their dogs go off the lead along here and then the dogs run ahead so I think a lot of people don’t realise.

“I don’t think it’s sinister but it’s such a pain because it’s so messy, it’s disgusting. I don’t know any other places like it. I’m from Canada and people are much more responsible with their dogs.

“I see it every day and I think dogs poo outside my door all the time because I’ve got a dog and they smell each other.”

A spokesperson said: “There is no excuse for littering – this includes leaving behind dog mess – and we are always looking at new ways to clamp down on this criminal offence.

“As part of our new initiative starting in February, our Enforcement Officers will have an increased presence at our parks to deter this irresponsible behaviour.

“We know residents are passionate about our local environment – we continue to invest around £6 million a year into cleaning our streets and doing all we can to prevent bad behaviour.”

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