Stafford Borough Council will arm its officers with night-vision goggles in order to fight a dog litter problem.
The ‘monocular’, a Batmanesque device, has a built-in laser infrared illuminator, which improves viewing in the dark. This will allow officers to spot offenders during the darker mornings and early evenings.
This recent move, in conjunction with their ‘reward’ scheme that encourages residents to provide information on the worst affected places, will help the council catch out offenders.
Stafford has also teamed up with the local football league and Staffordshire FA in order to tackle the problem on football pitches.
Dog fouling can lead to Toxocariasis in humans, which causes serious illness and even blindness.
Cllr Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said: ‘We have had tremendous support from the community for our efforts to get rid of this disgusting crime - especially from responsible dog owners who are sick and tired of their inconsiderate counterparts giving them all a bad name.’
Stafford’s innovative application of technology comes on the heels of Worcester City Council’s Poowatch app which can be used to locate and eradicate dog litter ‘hotspots’.
