Over-officious park attendant threatened woman with arrest in row over mystery dog poo

A park attendant called for police “back-up” after threatening a woman for arrest over an elusive dog poo. Amber Langtry, 35, was walking her dog with a friend in Victoria Park, London on New Year's Day when a lone Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officer accused her of not clearing up after her pet. When she explained to the officer that he'd made a mistake and asked to see the offending evidence, he refused to show her, then pointed to a spot in the opposite direction to where Miss Langtry's dog had been.



He then proceeded to issue her with a ticket and called the police. Miss Langtry said: "Our dogs went to the toilet and we cleaned up the mess as we do every time. Forty five minutes later a man in high-vis shouted at us from across the park and tried to give me a ticket for prosecution, which could mean a court hearing and a £1,000 fine. I asked to see the mess and he said ‘no'. He tried to get my details and then started reading me my rights and telling me I'd be arrested, and then called for police back-up."

Miss Langtry and her friend repeatedly ask him where the dropping was, but he doesn't answer the question, instead asking Miss Langtry to give him her details again. He says the friend is "aggressive." Miss Langtry added: "I remember thinking, ‘This is ridiculous. Why does he need police back-up for a five-foot-four woman looking for a dog poo?' When the police got here they were as bemused as I was, and they didn't have a problem with me or my dog." Under Schedule 5 of the Police Reform Act 2002, Enforcement Officers have the right to ask for a person's name and address, but they have no power of arrest including the reading of rights.


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In a five page letter to Miss Langtry Tower Hamlets council outlines that it will not be continuing with prosecution, but that "the officer has power to deal with an offence of failing to remove dog faces [sic]." It goes on to state that "the officer was on single patrol at the time and made a dynamic risk assessment for his own personal safety. "The dog barked at the officer and this is also admitted by the owner." A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called to a request for police assistance in Victoria Park on 1st January. Police met with an Enforcement Officer and rendered assistance before leaving. No allegation of crime was made to police."