The reasons Devon's councils issue Community Protection Notices

Dog poo, loud music, feeding birds and rats are among problems.

More than 50 noticed against people committing antisocial and other negative acts were issued by councils across Devon in the last three years.

Statistics released under Freedom of Information laws show that Devon councils had issued 18 CPNs in 2018 – up from 12 in 2017 but lower than the 21 in 2016.

North Devon District Council was the most prolific – issuing 18 of the notices in the last three years – with Exeter issuing 11, Mid Devon 10, East Devon 4, Teignbridge 4, Torridge 2 and West Devon 2. No notices were issues by South Hams, Torbay, Plymouth or Devon.

A CPN is almost a replacement of the ASBO – except it doesn’t have to go through court before being issued, meaning there is a lower burden of proof.

People issued with a CPN must comply, or face an on the spot fine of £100.

Here is what each council issued the CPN for.

East Devon District Council

• For feeding birds to such as extent that the high number of large birds are affecting the homes and wellbeing of residents
• for continuing to feed seagulls with various types of food, thereby encouraging them into the area to nest and feed
• for failing to keep dogs on short leads when in a public place, and to provide dogs with muzzles so they are unable to nip or bite
• for failure to prevent dogs from attacking and biting other people’s dogs on more than one occasion.

Exeter City Council

• Four CPNs for having and untidy garden
• Three CPNs for fly posting
• One CPN for feeding pigeons
• One CPN for dog control offences
• One CPN for antisocial behaviour
• One CPN for using intoxicating substances in public places, leaving rubbish or litter, including equipment or paraphernalia for the use of injecting or taking of substances and behaving in a manner that is likely to result in any member of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed by that behaviour.

Mid Devon District Council

• Six CPNs for having external rubbish at the property
• Four CPNs for dog related issues

North Devon District Council

• for failing to keep a garden free of a build-up of dog faeces (x4)
• for littering, using abusive language to North Devon Council employees and defecating in the Tuly Street public toilet area
• for failing to keep dogs from roaming onto other land (x3)
• for failing to keep rear garden free of a build-up of rubbish
• for failing to keep these outdoor areas free of a build-up of loose rubbish and discarded goods and materials
• for failing to keep these outdoor areas free of a build-up of dumped materials and bagged or loose dog mess, and the feeding of pigeons
• for placing, or allowing or permitting to be placed, vehicles that are not roadworthy or do not have a valid vehicle excise licence and MOT certificate or are not displaying a registration number, and are owned by you or under your control on a public
• for continuing to use abusive and intimidating language towards members of the public
• for failing to keep dogs from barking excessively and the failure to re-kennel them away from other dwellings
• for drinking and possessing alcohol in a public place
• for being in Barnstaple town centre
• for causing or permitting excessive noise, generally loud music at (address) for which you are responsible for as sole tenant
• for permitting the emission of dark smoke or noxious fumes or unpleasant odour from burning of materials at your premises

 Teignbridge District Council

• For feeding of seagulls
• For excessive noise and lighting
• For incitement to commit anti-social behaviour and making threats of violence
• For storage of waste creating harbourage for rats and vermin

Torridge District Council

• For being in possession of an open vessel of alcohol and served following a failure to comply with a previous written warning.
• For ignoring a previous written warning information them not enter Bideford Town Centre and not to associate with two others whilst in a public place
• For disturbing neighbouring residents with amplified sound, including sound from playing any music, games consoles, or any other electronic devices such as televisions or IT equipment, and served following a failure to comply with a previous written warning. 

West Devon Borough Council

• For using sleeping in the public toilets in Princetown and Tavistock
• After police were called after someone was shouting and swearing in the street and later seen to enter the ladies toilets and found to have been sleeping in the public toilets by Council Officers.