The following comes from a lady who just popped out to walk her dog before setting off for her nursing shift, in December 2022.

PSPO Order

I appreciate our outdoor spaces should be kept clean and safe for all to enjoy and benefit from. Our physical and mental wellbeing is enhanced by walking in these fields. Those of us who act responsibly whilst out walking and exercising our dogs feel victimised by the council’s offence of walking our dogs on playing fields with marked pitches due to the lack of alternative open park areas where our dogs can exercise freely under close supervision 

I also expect to be informed of this protection order politely and asked to put my dog on a lead instead of being told I was committing an offence for which I would be immediately fined and demanding my personal details in an intimidating and threatening manner.

Importance of walking outdoors

Walking provides the physical benefits of exercise whilst also boosting your mental health and enabling connection with other people.

Evidence shows it has numerous benefits, including improved sleep, stress relief, improvement in mood, ease symptoms relating to depression and anxiety, weight loss, reduced cholesterol and improved cardiovascular health, reducing social isolation and loneliness, to name but a few.

The NICE guidelines (National institute for Health and Care Excellence) public health recommendations state, by having access to local parks this reduces car travel, leading to reductions in air pollution and congestion. Increasing the number of people of all ages, making public spaces more welcoming and sociable. Inclusion for everyone to participate and enjoy the outdoor environment. 

My traumatic experience

As a responsible dog owner, who has exercised my dog daily on a field used by football clubs on weekends for the last 8 years, who had no knowledge of the new restrictions and prohibition of not walking dogs without a lead on marked pitches, I would have expected to have been informed of this protection order politely and asked to put my dog on a lead which I would have done so immediately. 

However, I was approached by two people in dark hoodies and a cap stating I had committed an offence by allowing my dog on the football pitch without being on a lead. Then demanded I give them my name and address and date of birth.

I stated I would not be giving them any of my personal details as I was not aware of any restrictions and pointed out the grass area I was on was unmarked. They pointed out a man at the far side of the field who was apparently marking out the pitch. They informed me they were recording me on their bodycams and due to this discrepancy  they would document this on their report and I could then appeal any fine. I put my dog on the lead and left the field. 

They began following me around the streets whilst repeatedly demanding my personal details, harassing me in a very threatening manner, pointing out to me that they had called the police who were on their way as it was an offence to refuse this information.

As I felt so traumatised by this experience and their intimidation and bullying behaviour, in order to stop them from following me endlessly around the streets, and believing I would be able to appeal the fine, I felt I had no choice but to give in to their demands of my name, address and date of birth.

However, when I received the fine it stated I was not able to appeal, resulting in my having to pay £100. When my partner contacted the council to query this or to see the bodycam footage he was told it would not be possible and the footage was no longer available.

I conclude that the whole episode was a scam and I was bullied and lied to by Plymouth City Council.