Antrim and Newtownabbey: Council hears concerns after over 200 dog fouling complaints and only two fixed penalties issued
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council received 213 complaints relating to dog fouling during a recent 12-month period but issued just two fixed penalty fines.
During the 2025/2026 financial year, the council also received 39 complaints of littering and 411 complaints relating to fly-tipping, a report presented to the Operations Committee on Tuesday said. Eight fines were imposed for littering.
Dog fouling and littering can result in a fine of £200 in the borough or £150 for early payment; £400 for illegally depositing waste, £300 for early payment; fly-tipping, (duty of care), £300 or £200 for early payment.
Between January 2025 and March 2026 five fixed penalty notices were issued for offences related to “larger scale” fly-tipping.
Councillors heard enforcement of littering offences “generally requires either direct observation or supporting evidence from witnesses, which can limit the number of fixed penalty notices issued”.
They also heard council officers carried out 2,910 “proactive patrols focusing primarily on litter and dog fouling in known hotspot areas” which have been identified through “intelligence, previous complaints, and local reports”. The use of mobile CCTV was also noted.
“Over the past year, environmental health enforcement officers have undertaken proactive patrols, responded to public complaints and conducted investigations relating to littering, dog fouling, and fly-tipping across the borough,” the report said.
It was also stated enforcement action is only taken when sufficient evidence exists, including witness statements from members of the public, if required.
Speaking at the meeting, Threemilewater DUP Councillor Mark Cooper BEM, who is not a member but had speaking rights, said: “We have six enforcement officers and seven DEAs (District Electoral Areas). That’s not even one per DEA. I think that really says it all.
“There have been 213 complaints of dog fouling but we have had two fixed penalties. We just do not have enough people on the ground.”
He indicated the local authority has been considering the use of private enforcement. He added: “I would not be too keen on that. I would rather see investment in our staff bringing it up to one per DEA.
“I have never seen mobile CCTV. I do not understand that when we have hotspots. How we are not getting more fixed penalties.”
Glengormley Sinn Fein Cllr Eamonn McLaughlin highlighted concerns over fly-tipping which has resulted in 411 complaints and five fines in the borough. “The Upper Hightown Road is a notorious fly-tipping hotspot. It is getting worse and worse,” he claimed.
Airport Alliance Cllr Andrew McAuley asked about council action to deter fly-tipping.
Airport Sinn Fein Cllr Annemarie Logue suggested signage does not deter fly-tippers. She said she believed people are coming into the borough from other areas to dump.
“It is just not being monitored. It is so under-resourced in our council. We definitely need to look at how we address this.” she stated.
“We need to be more serious in relation to fines. We need more hidden cameras in hotspots.”
A director commented on incidents of littering from cars and fly-tipping from vans which have occurred. “There is a level of criminality there. These things are evidence based. We can’t issue a fine without strong evidence,” he stressed.
Ballyclare DUP Cllr Jeannie Archibald-Brown asked for a workshop to discuss future action on dog-fouling, littering and fly-tipping.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter