Highland Council issues just three dog fouling fines in five years

Just three fines relating to dog fouling have been issued in the Highlands over the past five years, new figures show.

A freedom of information (FOI) request by BBC Scotland News found Highland Council generated £240 from fines since 2021.

Over the same time, only one fixed penalty notice (FPN) was issued relating to littering, with an £80 fine handed out in North Kessock last year.

Highland Council said it faced challenges when gathering evidence, including identifying offenders, and added that its environmental health team focused on education and prevention.

FPNs for dog fouling notices were issued in Beauly in 2021, in Dingwall in 2025 and in Fort William earlier this year.

A council spokesperson said that while the number of FPNs was low a "high level of service and proactive patrols" was provided, and staff remained committed to enforcement where "sufficient evidence" was available.

Highland Council has eight staff and serving FPNs was one of several duties they carried out.

Their other roles include tackling abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and dangerous dogs.

Last year, the team responded to 1,705 reports of abandoned vehicles, with 77 removed.

They also received 699 reports relating to dogs, including strays and aggressive dogs.

A spokesperson added that over the past five years 188 dog control notices had been issued.

Keep Scotland Beautiful claimed current enforcement was not working, and has called on government at both local and national level to do more to implement existing legislation.

Chief executive Barry Fisher said: "Scotland has a serious litter issue - 90% of people believe it's a problem nationally.

"Enforcement is only part of the solution, we need behaviour change and effective infrastructure for collection and recycling."

He said local authorities had been forced to make difficult decisions in recent years and budget cuts would continue to have an impact.

Fisher added: "The first, and simplest, way to deal with our country's litter is for people to stop.

"Ultimately standards are falling because of the behaviour of those who continue to litter."

The Scottish government previously acknowledged difficulties in obtaining sufficient evidence to issue fixed penalty notices.