A NORTH Oxfordshire council has set up a online facility for people to report dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets.

The move by Cherwell District Council is part of a crackdown on dog fouling. People can use the “confidential” service to report details of the owner, the dog and where it fouled. It will also be used by the council to target hotspots.

Lead member for clean and green Nigel Morris said: “Our officers can’t be everywhere at once but our residents can. By providing us with information about the dog, owner, times and locations of dog fouling it gives us a better chance of being in the right place at the right time to catch people flouting the law.

“Cherwell provides free dog poo bags across the district so there is no excuse for owners to not pick up after their pet.

“This new, confidential form will enable people to provide us with the information we need to take action against those who deliberately blight the area for others.”

Dog owners who fail to pick up after their animal face an on-the-spot fine of £50 or, if the matter is dealt with by the courts, fines of up to £1,000 can be imposed.

Free dog poop bags are available from: Bicester Town Council offices; The Post Office, Launton; The Post Office, Fritwell; PDSA Church Lane Banbury; Bodicote Post Office; Bloxham Post Office; Taste Buds, Adderbury; Oxford News, Kidlington; and Kidlington Parish Council.