Over 400 fines handed out in Wyre since lockdown eased in July

Enforcement officers stopped patrolling the borough during the coronavirus lockdown, but were back on Wyre's streets from July 1.

Figures obtained by the Gazette showed private firm District Enforcement Ltd had given out 456 fixed penalty notices between July 1 and October 14.

403 fines were handed out for littering, and 53 for dog-related public space protection order (PSPO) offences.

In 2017, the council introduced a PSPO with dog control orders on some public spaces in Wyre.

The orders are in place to make sure dog owners, or those in charge of a dog, walk them responsibly in public spaces.

Of the 53 fines issued for PSPO offences, 41 were handed out to owners walking or exercising their dog in an exclusion zone.

One person was fined for not having a dog bag on them to pick-up waste, four fines were issued for dogs off their lead, and seven fines were given out for dog fouling.

Wyre Council confirmed enforcement officers have patrolled all towns and areas within the borough since teams were reinstated.

Enforcement officers "obviously spend a greater proportion of their time in the heavier footfall areas where the majority of offences occur, simply due to the volume of people," the council said.

Since July, a "minimum of one officer has been patrolling Wyre on a daily basis (seven days a week)", and a mobile operation is in place for weekends where "up to four officers" at a time have been on patrol.

Wyre is patrolled for a minimum of 56 hours a week, increasing to up to as many as 112 hours a week depending on "officer availability."

A council spokesman said: "We are committed to supporting a cleaner and greener Wyre for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors of the borough.

"We recognise that a small number of people commit these environmental offences, but they have a detrimental impact."