New district-wide rules for dog owners are being proposed by Huntingdonshire District Council in a bid to clamp down on irresponsible behaviour.

A consultation has been launched by the authority on whether two new Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) should be introduced in the district.

One of the orders will give police and council officers the powers to stop dog walkers and ask to see the necessary equipment to pick up dog faeces, while the second order will require those in control of a dog to pick up and remove its faeces anywhere in the district.

Currently, the latter PSPO only applies to specific, designated places but, if given the go-ahead, it will apply to the entire district.

The district council is proposing the new measures after a report to its licensing and protection committee stated that stray dogs, dogs off leads, dog fouling and dangerous dogs “remains a significant issue to the public”.

Councillor Ryan Fuller, executive member for housing and regulatory services, said: “Although we understand that the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and control their dogs well, there is a significant minority who do not, resulting in some 500 calls per year to the council.

“In planning a new PSPO to put appropriate controls in place, Huntingdonshire District Council is seeking to address the concerns of our community and it is therefore important that we hear from the people who are most impacted by this issue.”

The council will also seek views from the police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire, the police, and town and parish councils as part of its consultation.

At present, the district council has a range of dog controls in place, known as dog control orders, however these are set to lapse in October and, if they aren’t replaced, the council will have no authority to stop offenders.

The council has also said that by introducing the PSPOs it is not seeking to change the terms and conditions of its current orders, which, in certain places, demand dogs are kept on leads at all times and others where dogs are permanently excluded.

The consultation can be found on the council’s website at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/consultations/dog-control-consultation.

It will run until Friday, August 25.