Newark pensioner 'falsely handed dog fouling fine' by Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) officers
A pensioner claims he was falsely handed a dog fouling fine by environmental officers because he was an easy target.
John Elvy, of Mather Road, Newark, said the two Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) officers — employed by Newark and Sherwood District Council — wouldn’t have been able to see the alleged offence, even if it did happen.
Mr Elvy, 87, said he was about to take his dog for a walk when he heard someone shout ‘oi, I want to have a word with you’.
“They were deliberately waiting for me, said they were from Newark and Sherwood District Council, and wanted my name and date of birth,” he said.
“The younger one said I should have known better at my age not to dog foul and gave me the ticket, which I said I was accepting under duress.
“I’ve always got poo bags in my pocket. My dog and I have been doing this walk for 14 years and I don’t leave waste — I really thought I had been scammed by them.”
Mr Elvy said the men were in a private car, not district council-owned, so he returned home to get his phone and take pictures of the area of the accused crime — but said there were only leaves.
“I took the evidence to the district council offices, where someone told me WISE was a private company that had nothing to do with the council, and the only advice they could give me was to pay the fine and get in touch with a local councillor,” he said.
“But why should I pay it if I’ve done nothing wrong?
“They [WISE officers] were determined they would have some old man and his little white dog because we looked easy — now I want to show them I’m not an easy target.
“Since the incident I’ve had another dog walker tell me his wife came home crying after being approached by the officers, and that it will stop her from going out again.
“They are intimidating and I want to fight this.
It comes after Morton woman Rebekah Watts was involved in a similar incident outside the back of Pets at Home in Newark.
She said she took her five-month-old puppy Lola for a wee before heading into the store for some essentials. But before she could get through the shop doors, she was confronted by a warden.
“I showed her where my puppy went to the toilet and she took me to another spot further along and said ‘there’s some fresh dog mess — I’m giving you a ticket’,” said Rebekah.
“It may seem petty but it’s so frustrating because it had nothing to do with me.”
Rebekah ended up paying the fine and the council said anyone with concerns over a fine should make a representation to WISE and, if there is no resolution, to challenge the ticket in court.
Mr Elvy, however, said he would continue to refuse to pay the fine in principle.
He said: “You couldn’t even see the number plate on the car because it was so dirty, the headlights were also dirty but I know that’s a police issue.“I’m really not happy with this obviously, I would have done the decent thing and picked up the poo if it was my dog — but instead I was very badly treated.”
Roger Jackson, leisure and environment committee chairman at the council, said: “Dog fouling is a widespread issue and know it is of particular concern for our residents. This is why we embarked on a one-year pilot with WISE, who are working on our behalf to increase our number of enforcement officers on the ground to crack down on perpetrators of environmental crimes.
“We urge any resident who has any concerns to make a representation to WISE in the first instance and then, if there is no resolution, to challenge the ticket in court.
“We have increased the number of dog waste and litter bins in the district and are committed to keeping Newark and Sherwood cleaner, safer and greener.”
