Latest news with #CPNs
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Owner of 'dangerous dog' that's 'terrorising Brixton Market' warned to keep it on lead, police confirm
Police are investigating reports of a dangerous dog after MyLondon revealed a former heavyweight boxer is accused of letting his pet storm through Brixton Market mauling cats. Scotland Yard say officers are looking at two incidents on February 12 and 13, while the owner has been issued a civil injunction, legally requiring he keep the dog on a lead or face prosecution at the magistrates. MyLondon previously named the accused dog owner as Alexander Warren, 37, a former professional fighter, known in the ring as AJ Carter, who was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in 48-seconds at his last bout in 2017. Mr Warren, who has publicly spoken about his previous convictions for assault and robbery, then picked up a 12 week jail sentence for animal cruelty after spanking a police horse at an anti-vax rally in 2021. Despite his good impression with Brixton's street cleaners, who said Mr Warren is a 'good man' with 'manners', those same cleaners described Mr Warren's black dog as a 'terrorist' who doesn't behave when off the lead. Market traders also told MyLondon 'everyone is scared' after a series of attacks on the felines which are prized by traders for pest control and generally adored by everyone living and working around Electric Avenue. READ MORE: Secondary school places: London borough where children least likely to get first choice READ MORE: Pensioner 'murdered' in Lewisham following alleged pub dispute Our own investigation involved reviewing video footage and using open source techniques to identify Mr Warren as the owner. When MyLondon visited Mr Warren's flat, on Hartington Road in Nine Elms, we found two dogs matching the description who barked ferociously and launched themselves against the door. Mr Warren was approached for comment but did not reply. Since our story, a number of Brixton locals have got in contact to share their continued concerns about other alleged incidents, while some animal-lovers have shared their devastation about the cat killings. Action on ASB, a community campaign set up to deal with anti-social behaviour in Brixton, have contacted local police to highlight community worries. MyLondon has also seen a letter from local police about a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued to Mr Warren. CPNs are designed to stop anti-social behaviour and failure to comply can lead to a court summons and £2,500 fine upon conviction. The statement, which appears to be from a local officer, threatens "further enforcement action" if Mr Warren is found in breach. On Monday (March 3), a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "We are investigating reports of a dangerous dog in Brixton Market on Wednesday, 12 February and Thursday, 13 February. "As part of our efforts to protect the public, we have worked alongside the Met's Dogs Unit to issue the owner with a Community Protection Notice. "This means the dog must be kept on a lead at all times while in Lambeth and Southwark. Our officers on patrol are aware of the notice and will continue to monitor to ensure the dog owner is complying with the conditions.' An RSPCA spokesperson also said: 'We are incredibly saddened to hear about these cat deaths and our enquiries are ongoing. However, we are unable to discuss complaints about specific people and what action may or may not have been taken, for legal reasons. We know this is frustrating for animal lovers but we must comply with the law.' Got a tip, a court date, or some gossip? Please email or WhatsApp 07580255582. Don't miss out on the latest crime stories from across London. Sign up to MyLondon's Court & Crime newsletter HERE
Telegraph
02-03-2025
- Telegraph
Fines for car idling and noisy dogs increase five-fold
On-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour are to increase five-fold under new laws that critics claim will unfairly penalise 'crimes' such as car idling, untidy gardens and noisy dogs. The Crime and Policing Bill has raised the maximum fines from £100 to £500 as the Government attempts to tackle anti-social behaviour in city and town centres. The Home Office says that it is part of its zero tolerance approach to behaviour that is 'eroding the quality of people's lives and confidence of local communities'. It aims to target persistent behaviour such as threats, abuse, harassment, aggressive begging, drunkenness and disorderly conduct. However, campaigners say the powers have been widened by 'busybody' councils to sanction 'trivial' activities such as dog walkers who do not have their pets on a lead, people loitering in a group of three or more and messy front gardens. Private enforcement officers in Hillingdon, west London, issued 2,335 penalties for 'idling', which was not previously a punishable offence, 342 for spitting, and 115 for misusing motorised electric vehicles in 2023, according to freedom of information (FoI) requests by the campaign group the Manifesto Club. 'It's a toxic cocktail of extremely broad laws and incentivised officers enforcing them,' said Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club. 'A fine of £500 is unaffordable for most people. The whole point of an on-the-spot fine is that it's a slap on the wrist but £500 is not. It's like half a person's pay cheque.' Activities in public spaces The increased fines are being introduced to enforce Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which allow councils to ban activities in public spaces and Community Protection Orders (CPNs) for anti-social behaviour. They can be issued for actions that are deemed to have a 'detrimental effect on the quality of life'. Failure to pay the fines can result in prosecution and bigger financial penalties. They are in addition to Labour's planned new Respect Orders, which give police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public spots such as high streets and local parks. Failure to comply with the orders is a criminal offence. The Manifesto Club claims that PSPO and CPN fines have increased exponentially, with councils contracting out enforcement to private security companies who take a percentage of any penalty notice income and incentivise their staff with targets. Data obtained under FoI laws by the group has found 19,000 penalty fines were issued for PSPO breaches and 1,500 for CPNs in 2022/23. The largest numbers of councils (88) issued PSPO penalties for dog offences, such as entering a no-dog zone or having dogs off leads. This was followed by drinking in public (47), vehicle nuisance (18), urination (18) and anti-social behaviour (15). Harrow listed its penalties as amplification, feeding the birds, failing to produce a dog fouling bag, drinking, distributing leaflets, obstruction, smoking in a playground, spitting, street trading and table stands. Punished for untidy garden Durham council issued the highest number of penalties for CPN breaches, with 468 on-the-spot fines for 'untidy yards and gardens'. This was out of 914 CPNs issued, meaning that more than half of those who received a CPN for an untidy garden were later punished for breach. Ms Appleton said the Government should ban payment incentive schemes. 'The only reason the fines are so high is because many of them are being issued by people on commission so they will nab anybody they can,' she said. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Too many town centres are being plagued by anti-social behaviour, eroding the quality of peoples' lives and confidence of local communities. 'Our flagship Crime and Policing Bill is tackling anti-social behaviour head-on to ensure our streets and neighbourhoods are safer. We are absolutely clear that no anti-social behaviour should be dismissed as 'trivial' or 'low level'. 'This includes increasing the upper limit for various types of fixed penalty notices to £500, which will help deter more people from breaching them, and ultimately reduce anti-social behaviour.'
