Council to use night vision goggles in fight against dog poo

Night vision goggles are to be used to catch dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets. Stafford Borough Council is stepping up its efforts to stamp out dog fouling with the introduction of the 'monocular'. The new equipment has a built-in laser infrared illuminator which improves viewing in the dark.



It is being introduced to catch people who fail to clean up dog mess,especially those who walk their dogs during the darker mornings and early evening. The council claims the goggles, which cost £230, will help officers identify inconsiderate owners on fields and football pitches during the winter months which would normally be difficult to make out.

Councillor Frank Finlay, Cabinet member for Environment and Health, said: "We have had tremendous support from the community for our efforts to get rid of this disgusting crime. And especially from responsible dog owners, who are sick and tired of their inconsiderate counterparts giving them all a bad name.



"We target hot spots from information we get from our residents but with the darker morning and early evenings it is difficult to catch someone who is not cleaning up. These night vision goggles will help us overcome this problem and let people know that, even under the cover of darkness, they cannot get away with showing blatant disregard to their fellow citizens."