Rubbish, rows and dogs keep team busy

FLY tipping was the biggest issue dealt with by the council’s community safety team in the last year. Abandoned vehicles, and anti-social behaviour were next on the list. A report on their work has been put together for councillors and reveals the 12 officers investigated 862 fly tipping complaints across the region and subsequently gave out 15 fines of £500 each. They referred 303 anti social issues to a case panel; were called to 320 abandoned vehicles; and handled 237 complaints about dog fouling, of which 20 resulted in fines. Furthermore, team members also safely lifted 30 discarded syringes, helped 48 stray dogs and gave out 41 fines of £80 each for littering. As well as all of the above, the community safety team gave presentations visited schools, did neighbourhood walkabouts and arranged ten mediations in neighbour disputes. They have small bases in Stranraer, Castle Douglas and Dumfries.