British beach dog ban

• A third (32 per cent) of British beaches have some form of dog restrictions in place
• One in five (19 per cent) local authorities in the UK put restrictions on dogs on their beaches starting on 1st May
• Dog owners in Scotland have the fewest seasonal restrictions
• Dog owners who disobey the dog restrictions risk fines of up to £1,000
   

Nearly a third (32 per cent) of British beaches has a dog ban in place, either seasonally or all year, reveals new research from Direct Line Pet Insurance¹. Owners are warned that from this week (1st May), one fifth of the nation’s beaches (19 per cent) place restrictions on dogs, either by banning them completely or requiring that they be kept on a lead.
 

An example of a council with these restrictions in place is Wyre Borough Council in Lancashire, which has dog exclusions on two beach bathing areas with amenities from 1st May – 30th September².
 

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of beaches across Britain has seasonal bans in place, often covering the busier summer months. While a fifth (19 per cent) of beaches in the UK starts their ban on 1st May each year, one in 14 (seven per cent) start their bans earlier, often around the Easter weekend.
 

These restrictions are usually covered by either Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and Dog Control Orders (DCOs) which fines owners for dog fouling and breaking dog restrictions. Fines typically start from between £50 and £80 and are delivered as a Fixed Penalty Notice. They can, however, rise up to £1,000.
 

Dog owners in Scotland have the fewest restrictions to deal with, as just 18 per cent of the beaches analysed have restrictions on dog walking. Dog owners living in the South West should also be happy as, despite having vast numbers of beaches, just a fifth (21 per cent) of those analysed have dog restrictions in place.
 

Those wishing to walk their dog on a beach in the East of England, however, should check before they go as this region has the highest share of beaches with restrictions. Nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of the beaches in this region has some form of dog ban in place.
 

Table One: Regional breakdown of dog restrictions on beaches

Source: Direct Line Pet Insurance 2018

The value of monies raised by fines is significant. In Conwy County Borough Council in Wales, the total value of Fixed Penalty Notices served to dog owners for breaching dog restrictions on beaches was £9,875, after serving 122 Fixed Penalty Notices. Neath Port Talbot Council, also in Wales, issued 135 Fixed Penalty Notices in 2017, generating fines worth £5,450.
 

In better news for dog owners, just four per cent of beaches have year-round bans stopping them from walking their dogs. Most of the restrictions finish at the end of the Summer, typically taken to mean end of September or October.
 

Prit Powar, head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line said: “May 1st marks the start of many restrictions on British beaches for dog owners. While they may previously have been able to take their dogs for walks without a lead, even taking their dog on their favourite beach at all could result in a fine of £50-£80. Anyone who takes their dog on a beach at the moment should check signs around the beach, or their local council website, for information on whether they are still able to. The restrictions vary hugely, even down to different parts of the same beach, so check carefully and speak to the council if unsure.”
 

Dog Control Order Regulations³ provides for offences which may be prescribed in a dog control order and give councils the power to make orders regarding dogs in their area, which covers their beaches. These include failing to remove dog faeces; not keeping a dog on a lead; not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer; permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded and taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land.
 

Prit Powar continued: “Anyone planning a holiday to a coastal part of the UK with their dogs this summer should check on which beaches they are able to take their dogs. If some restrict dogs on a popular beach, there should be others in close proximity which have fewer restrictions in place. No one wants to end up with a fine for walking their dog while on holiday!”
 

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

¹ 1,386 beaches across 89 Local Councils across the UK were analysed. 19 councils were unable to provide usable data

² Direct Line's analysis of data supplied in response to a Freedom of Information Act Request to UK local authorities on 12th March 2018. Analysis covers the latest available full-year figures.

³ Defra’s Guidance on Sections 55 to 67 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 on Dog Control Orders [link]           
 

For further information please contact:

Lucy Davies

Media Relations Manager 

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 831 672

Email: lucy.davies@directlinegroup.co.uk
 

Antonia Green

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Antonia.green@citigatedewerogerson.com

0207 282 2967

Direct Line

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