Telford & Wrekin Council Secures Criminal Behaviour Order in Dog Barking Nuisance Case
Telford & Wrekin Council has successfully prosecuted a Wellington resident for breaching a Noise Abatement Notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, following complaints of persistent and excessive dog barking.
At a hearing yesterday (July 28) at Telford Magistrates’ Court, the defendant, pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court imposed a total financial penalty of £4,817 and granted the Council’s application for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which;
- Prohibits the offender who currently owns 16 dogs, from acquiring any more.
- Requires them to engage with a suitable dog behaviour specialist
- Ensures restrictions will remain in place for five years
The Councill applied for the CBO to protect the community, prevent future issues and stop the persistent and harmful behaviour, if these rules are broken, the person can be taken back to court and may face further penalties, including prison.
Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement said: “Protecting residents and promoting responsible dog ownership are part of our duties in creating a better brough.
“This case sends a clear message that we take noise nuisance seriously and will take robust action to protect our residents’ quality of life.
“We always aim to resolve issues informally, but when legal notices are ignored, we will not hesitate to act. The Criminal Behaviour Order is a significant step in addressing the root cause of the nuisance and preventing further disruption to the community.”
The environmental protection team will continue to monitor the situation and take further enforcement action if necessary.
Telford & Wrekin Council can act on serious and ongoing noise problems - but only if the noise is considered a statutory nuisance, it must;
- Be regular, persistent, and unreasonable.
- Must affect your health or your ability to enjoy your home.
- Cannot just be annoying.
Considerations include, how often and how long the noise happens, how loud or disruptive it is, the time of day and whether it’s part of normal life or unreasonable behaviour.
If you feel safe doing so, speak to your neighbour. They might not realise there’s a problem but if this approach isn’t appropriate, report noise issues 24/7 using the online portal available here https://www.telford.gov.uk/public-protection/environmental-health/pollution/noise/