Council plan to DNA dog poo

A Kent parish council wants to use DNA testing on dog waste in a bid to catch owners who allow pets to soil the pavement.

Councillors sitting on Sundridge with Ide Hill Parish Council discussed the plans after hearing a string of complaints from villagers.

People in the two villages, near Sevenoaks, complained inconsiderate pet owners were "ruining the area".

The council says it is now considering collecting DNA from waste and using it to prosecute anti-social owners.

Although never before used in the UK, DNA testing on dog mess has been used in Germany and the US.

Owners must give consent for a DNA sample to be taken from their pet, but once they are on the database their behaviour can be logged for their entire lifetime.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the council agreed to take a tougher stance on fining offending dog owners and to make sure the dog warden visited the area regularly.

The minutes added: "If this still remains a problem it is possible to take DNA from the poo and trace it back to the dog and its owner."

Anna West, 36, of Sundridge, who walks her dog Harvey in the area, said: "It just seems bizarre to me. Crazy. It's Big Brother gone mad, really."