Caught on Camera: Launceston Man Prosecuted After Dog Fouls Outside Home

A Launceston man has been prosecuted after CCTV captured his dog fouling in the street and him failing to clean it up.

CCTV footage leads to prosecution

The incident happened at around 11pm on 27th January 2025 in Launceston. A home security camera recorded 61-year-old Guy Field, of Robin Drive, walking his dog off-lead. The footage showed the dog fouling in the street while Field, who appeared to be on his phone, walked away without picking it up.

Under the Cornwall Council Public Space Protection (Dogs on Land) Order 2023, it is an offence to allow a dog to foul in a public space without removing the mess.

Court hears case in Field’s absence

Cornwall Council brought the case to Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 3rd June 2025. Field did not attend the hearing, so the matter was dealt with in his absence. After reviewing the footage, magistrates fined him £60 and ordered him to pay a £24 victim surcharge and £200 towards Cornwall Council’s costs.

“Totally unacceptable”

Councillor Thalia Marrington, Portfolio holder for Community Safety and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said:

“This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and when we have evidence of someone allowing their dog to foul in public, we will take action.

“Dog mess is unsightly and unhygienic, and residents shouldn’t have to put up with it being left outside their homes.

“More and more people now have doorbell and home security cameras that capture these types of offences. I urge anyone with such footage to report it to us so we can trace those responsible.”

How to report dog fouling

Anyone with footage of dog fouling in public can report it via the Cornwall Council website. Allowing a dog to foul without removing the mess is a criminal offence. While this can be discharged by a Fixed Penalty Notice, offenders who don’t pay and are found guilty in court will receive a criminal record.