Council approves tougher rules on Tower Hamlets dog owners in bid to tackle attacks
The new rules, which come after a public consultation, are considered a ‘fair compromise’ by dog community.
Tower Hamlets Council has approved a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which will see new rules for dog owners and walkers within the borough.
The council is introducing a PSPO in a bid to tackle dog-related antisocial behaviour (ASB) following several attacks which occurred in summer 2023.
Following cabinet approval on Wednesday evening (30 April), new rules, including banning dogs from all gated children’s areas and keeping dogs on leads on streets and pathways, will be introduced. A public consultation, in which took place between August and November 202,4 saw just over 2,267 responses from people, including residents and animal welfare organisations such as the East London Dog Community and the RSPCA.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, said the council knows that the majority of dog owners in the borough are responsible and pose no risk of harm.
He said: ‘This consultation with the community was held following several high-profile incidents, and a majority of those who responded expressed support for new measures which would bring us in line with the many other London councils who have had such rules in place for years.
‘These recommendations seek to strike a fair balance and we hope they will reassure residents who have expressed concern about dangerous dogs, particularly about risks to young children, while ensuring responsible dog owners in our community can fully enjoy our open spaces and allow their dogs to play off-lead freely.’
Under the new rules, dogs will still be allowed to play off-lead freely in all parks and green spaces in the borough. The following measures will be introduced later this autumn:
- Banning dogs from certain areas, such as gated children’s play areas and sports areas
- Limiting the number of dogs a person can walk at a time to a maximum of four, unless they have a professional dog walker licence issued by the council
- Ensuring dogs are kept on leads on or near roads, pavements and communal estate areas
- Complying with an authorised officer’s [such as a Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officer] instruction to put dogs on leads when asked to do so, including when the walker is unable to control the dog
- Introducing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for dog fouling, as well as all of the above
The PSPO will not apply to people who are registered blind, are deaf and those with a physical or mental impairment who use dogs for assistance, which is in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Bernadette Moriarty from the East London Dog Community said: “We welcome continued off-lead access to parks for dogs, and we support the council’s focus on tighter enforcement of dog fouling and welcome the continued protection of gated children’s play areas with no new dog exclusion zones.
‘This proposal strikes a fair compromise that prioritises public safety for all while ensuring families with dogs can still enjoy ungated children’s play areas together in a respectful and responsible way, and that responsible dog owners and their dogs are not unfairly punished’
Ms Moriarty added: ‘We’re cautiously optimistic about the ‘on lead by direction’ and professional dog walker licence, but need to see these implemented and enforced in reasonable and proportionate ways.’
According to internal police data, there were 92 dog attack crime reports in the borough between April and October 2024.
Tower Hamlets has the eighth highest crime reports relating to dog attacks out of all 32 London boroughs. Tower Hamlets will join neighbouring boroughs Newham and Hackney, which have had dog control PSPOs in place for many years.
If you like this article, read Plans submitted to demolish vacant Bow tower block to make way for 145 new homes
