A CAMPAIGN will be launched in the coming weeks to highlight that the fine for dog fouling is about to double.

Currently, dog owners who fail to clear up after their pets can be hit with a fixed penalty of £40.

But that figure will double to bring it in line with littering from the start of April.

The issue of dog fouling was raised at the Dunbar and East Linton Community and Police Partnership meeting on Monday. Police Constable Gavin Ross read out a report from Jimmy Wilson, community warden, about the issue, which he said “continued to dominate” complaints to the local authority.

Mr Wilson had carried out five early-morning patrols at East Linton in recent weeks and spoken to dog walkers.

Patrols had also been carried out at Winterfield, Dunbar, while a banner at Oldhamstocks warned people to clean up after their pets.

The increase in the fine comes after the overwhelming majority of responses to a Scottish Government consultation on responsible dog ownership said they would support the fixed penalty being raised.

As well as the fixed penalty, the Scottish Government is considering how to develop a more robust system to tackle the issue of collecting unpaid penalties.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, minister for community safety and legal affairs, said: “Dog fouling is not only unpleasant, but also can pose potentially significant risks to health, particularly for children, and we’re very clear that dog owners who do not clear up after their dogs are breaking the law.

“We believe the increased penalty will act as a greater deterrent for people who do not take responsibility for their pets and clean up after them.”