Public Space Protection Orders and Dog Free Beaches

Our Public Space Protection Order was first introduced in October 2017 in line with legislation updates to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It replaced the East Lindsey Dog Control Order 2008. The Order aims to encourage responsible dog ownership, helping to make our communities a great place for our residents to live and for our visitors to enjoy. The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) was renewed in November 2021 and lasts for three years.

Whilst we appreciate that the majority of people behave responsibly, unfortunately there remains a minority of dog owners who do not, and they cause anti-social behaviour that we wish to tackle using the powers given under the PSPO.

Dog Fouling & Carrying the Means to Pick Up after your Dog

Dog Fouling can endanger health, is unpleasant and has a negative impact on the local community.

Under the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) it is an offence not to remove dog faeces from the following areas:

• Any public road
• Any private road to which the public have access (unless the owner of the road declares that he or she does not wish the Order to cover it)
• Any public footpath
• Any private footpath to which the public have access (unless the owner of the footpath declares that he or she does not wish the Order to cover it)
• Any other land, which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment)

If you are approached by one of our Authorised Officers, you may, on request, be required to produce a device or suitable means to pick up after your dog.  A suitable means may be a poo bag, or poop scoop or other device which enables you to remove dog faeces and put it into a bin. You may be asked to produce this even if your dog has not defecated. Failure to produce a suitable means for removal of faeces is an offence.

Children's Play Areas & Paddling Pools

Dogs are banned from any enclosed and fenced designated children's play area containing play equipment within our district. 

Dogs are also banned from the enclosed areas at the Paddling Pools at our seaside towns:

• Fairy Dell Paddling Pool Skegness
• Queen's Park Paddling Pool, Mablethorpe
• York Road Pleasure Gardens Paddling Pool, Sutton On Sea

These restrictions help make our Play Areas and Paddling Pools safe, useable places for children to play & enjoy. For further information about locations, please see our Paddling Pools page.

Beach Ban Areas

Dogs are banned from 1st May to 30th September each year, on specified areas of the beaches at our coastal towns in Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea. 

Dogs on Lead by Direction  & Dogs on Lead Areas

Dogs must be placed  and kept on a lead on the Promenades at Skegness, Mablethorpe & Sutton on Sea between 1st May & 30th September each year, in the beach ban areas.

It is an offence not to place a dog on a lead when requested by an appropriately Authorised Person, if the dog is deemed to be out of control. This will apply to any public open spaces in the district.

Enforcement of the Order

Anyone who commits an offence under any of the provisions of the Public Space Protection Order will be liable on conviction in the Magistrates Court to a fine of up to £1,000.

We will offer a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice to those persons who fail to comply with the Order and anyone who fails to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice may be prosecuted.

Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued on the spot by our Authorised Officers who regularly patrol the district.

For more information regarding PSPOs please see the government website regarding Controlling your Dog in Public

Exemptions

There are exemptions to the Order for any person who is registered as blind, on a register compiled under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, or a person who is in charge of an Assistance Dog registered with Assistance Dogs UK.

Persons in charge of a Police or Rescue dog whilst on duty would also be exempt from the Order.

Town & Parish Council Inclusions in the Public Space Protection Order

Some Town & Parish Councils have been given delegated powers to act on behalf of our PSPO and have been authorised to issue on the spot Fixed Penalty Notices for breaches of the Order.

Other dog control areas covered by the Public Space Protection Order and enforced by the Town or Parish Council, are as follows:

Chapel St Leonards Parish Council

• To ban all dogs on the beach 200 metres either side of the Main Pullover in Chapel St Leonards from 1st May to 30th September in any same year
• Dogs must be placed and kept on a lead at all times on the Promenade between Trunch Lane & Chapel Point, Chapel St Leonards
• Dogs must be placed and kept on a lead at all times on the Village Green at Chapel St Leonards
• Dogs must be placed and kept on a lead at all times in the Cemetery and Churchyard at Chapel St Leonards
• Dogs must be placed and kept on a lead at all times on land owned by Chapel St Leonards Parish Council at Chapel Point, to include the Car Park, Grassed Area used for Picnics, Walkways & Ramps

Maps showing the areas covered by the PSPO are contained within the appendices to the Public Space Protection Order 2021 (PDF) [3MB]

Reporting Breaches of the Public Space Protection Order

Please help us to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by dogs by reporting dog fouling and other breaches of the PSPO. Our officers carry out additional patrol in hotspot areas.

Report Dog Fouling by using the link to our online reporting tool, or please contact us by email our Environmental Crime Team for other breaches of the PSPO.

The Public Space Protection Order is due to be renewed again in November 2024.