DOG WALKING "GESTAPO" CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM

12-03-2008

A Black Country dog walker has hit out at the "Gestapo" who’ve fined him £75 for walking his pooch through a park.  It’s the latest flare-up over the issue in Sandwell, and now local councillors are demanding a crisis meeting.

Martin Swain was strolling through Brunswick Park in Wednesbury with his English bull terrier Sam when he was stopped by wardens who handed him a penalty notice.

“I shan’t be paying it” said Martin. 

“I’m on disability living allowance and I can’t afford it.

"It's like living with the Gestapo.  I was just walking my dog in the local park and I've been treated like a criminal."

His case echoes the story of Paul Perrins who was issued a similar fine after walking through the nearby cemetery, even though our pictures clearly showed there were no warning signs (see link here).

Paul has now reluctantly paid up because he can’t afford a legal battle, even though he believes he was in the right.

Martin Swain says he’ll try and get legal aid to fight his case, which has being taken up by his local councillor Elaine Costigan.

She said, “Martin was told he was being fined for walking his dog in the park, but you're allowed to do that as long as it’s on a lead.

“Now the wardens are saying that they saw him earlier cutting through the cemetery.

“No one really knows what the rules are, so I’m calling for a meeting with the officer in charge of these wardens to see what kind of training they receive.”

Sandwell introduced tough new Dog Control Orders in January aimed at reducing fouling on sports fields and play areas used by children.

Although this is a laudable aim, question marks remain about how well advertised the initiative has been, and tactics used to enforce them.

Derek Rowley, the Cabinet Member responsible for the Dog Orders promised to investigate Martin Swain’s case.