NOT a single dog owner has been fined for failing to clean up after their pooch in Worcester over the last three years.

City council chiefs, who have labelled the problem “disgusting and unacceptable”, have admitted handing out £80 on-the-spot fines for dog fouling is proving difficult.

During the 2011/12 financial year, the authority had 158 complaints about the problem from residents.

The authority first gave 16 civil enforcement officers (CEOs) powers to dish out the punishments back in September 2006, and in all that time just two have been made.

Bosses say the culprits are hard to pin down because someone has to witness the fouling.

Councillor Roger Knight, cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said: “Failing to pick up after a dog has littered is irresponsible and socially unacceptable. I’m never happy to see it anywhere – I think it’s disgusting and socially unacceptable.

“Catching people is a problem because you’ve got to see it happen, or get someone to provide a witness statement.

“You cannot expect a council officer to be behind every dog owner when a dog fouls – it’s up to that owner to make sure it’s cleaned up.

“People have got to be responsible about it.”

The figure was unearthed during a meeting of full council at the Guildhall, after the question was asked by Labour Councillor Lynn Denham.

She said: “Numerous residents in the Cathedral ward I represent have told me dog fouling is a problem and one of the things they like least about living in the city.”

City resident Peter Newman, aged 51, of Whinfield Road, Northwick, said: “You see dog mess all the time – it’s terrible.”

Under the rules, the £80 fine reduces to £50 if it is paid within 10 days, and not paying it leads to prosecution where the culprit can be forced to hand over £1,000.

The Government has allowed town halls to hand out fines as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

The city council has put £15,000 into the budget for 40 new dog bins across Worcester this year, in the hope it will make a difference.

All the CEOs have also been handed bikes to allow them to cover more ground.