Watch out!

An Exmouth police officer has branded the town ‘dog mess alley’ after trying in vain to prevent scores of festive swimmers from walking through dog mess.

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A police officer from Exmouth who tried in vain to prevent hundreds of barefoot festive swimmers from walking through dog mess has hit out at irresponsible pet owners.

The 53-year-old officer, who does not want to be named, said Exmouth was turning into ‘dog mess alley’ because of owners too lazy to pick up after their pets.

The Exmouth man, a dog owner, was ‘appalled’ on Christmas Day when scores of unaware swimmers trampled through two mounds of dog mess left on the Esplanade pavement, opposite Elizabeth Hall.

The man said he spent half an hour trying to direct swimmers leaving the beach away from the mess, but was thwarted by the swell of people.

The police officer said he plans to write to the district council, complaining about the lack of dog warden presence.

He said scores of streets in Exmouth were currently littered with dog mess – believing the worst hit to be Withycombe Village Road.

The district council is urging people to report offenders who fail to pick up after their pets.

The police officer said: “I was appalled at how people can let their dogs foul in such a public place. If I had seen them I would have challenged them.

“There were a lot of people down there with dogs who are responsible and pick up after they have been there. But there are lot of people that won’t and should be ashamed.

“I don’t blame the dogs – I blame the owners.”

East Devon District Council said dog owners caught leaving pet mess were committing a criminal offence and faced a fine.

The council said there was ‘no reasonable excuse’ for failing to clean up dog mess from the beach, pavement or public place.

Dog owners face an £80 fixed penalty for a first offence and a ‘significantly higher’ fine for repeat offences, or if the case goes to court.

A district council spokesman said: “It is hugely disappointing that after years of education, awareness campaigns, along with both uniformed and plain-clothes enforcement, that we still get complaints of this kind.

“It is almost beyond belief that the absence of a patrolling uniformed dog warden over the Christmas period has apparently resulted in a free-for-all of dog fouling and owners failing to pick up. Anyone with information about the identity of the persons responsible is encouraged to contact us in confidence.”

● Contact the council on 01395 517456 or e-mail environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk

“The stench was disgusting after it had been trampled through.

“It was in two different spots, but after half an hour it was everywhere.

“I had to cross the road, it was so bad.

“I was trying to stop people from walking through. It was disgusting. But there were so many people, I couldn’t stop them.

“Although council staff and contractors cannot be in all places at all times, we are confident that there are people within the law-abiding communities of East Devon who will have the information necessary to name, shame and if necessary prosecute this inconsiderate minority.