Paris suburb to use CCTV to fight 'plague' of dog poo

Authorities in a Paris suburb are leading the way in the battle against dog poo on the capital's streets by using a new weapon to punish owners who don’t clean up dog mess. For the first time video surveillance will be used to snoop on pooing pooches. Local authorities in the suburb of Montereau-Fault-Yvonne have come up with a new way to fight the "plague" of dog poo, the long time scourge of the city's streets.

For the first time in France the growing legion of close-circuit television cameras will be put to use to crack down on dog owners who don't clean up after their mutts. Deputy Mayor Yves Jégo said on Monday that “between 10 and 20 dog owners dirty the town. It’s a plague, the locals are always complaining to me about it.” He estimates that the problem costs the town €200,000 a year in cleaning costs.



Clarifying the reasons for such extreme measures Jégo said, “We have already invested in a poster campaign and the distribution of rubbish bags to prevent the problem. It hasn't worked. There are still children stepping in it on the way to school. I hope that giving out fines will prompt dog owners to take responsibility.”

Dog owners caught on camera will first receive a warning, but if they become a repeat offender, they could find themselves paying a fine of €35. Conversely, local police will have to be watching the cameras 24/7 to ensure they catch the doggy delinquents. Local restaurant owner Nahim is against the new measure. “I don’t support all these cameras, I get the impression that everything we do is being watched," he said.