HEREFORDSHIRE towns could be teaming up to employ people to battle petty crimes such as dog fouling.

Ledbury Town Council has been approached by the mayor of Ross-on-Wye Ed O'Driscoll, as he wants to team up to employ enforcement officers for both market towns.

In a letter to the council, he stated he had met Craig Sandman, an enforcement officer from the community protection team at Herefordshire Council, to discuss Ross's options to enhance the town and improve the street scene.

The town council were made aware that Hereford City Council has recently funded an enforcement officer to cover the city.

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Mayor Sandman wondered if this could be something that Ross could look at replicating in the market town by trialling a pilot scheme where an enforcement officer could be employed full time with their time to be split between the town towns.

Ledbury councillors questioned what the role of the officer entailed.

But councillor Liz Harvey said the city officer acted as an official witness of petty crimes, such as dog fouling, littering, small fines, for the police to be able to prosecute people, to try and stop antisocial behaviour.

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Dog owners who fail to clear up after their dog can face an on-the-spot fine of £100.

Those that are convicted can be fined up to £1,000, according to Gloucester City Council.

The law states that being unaware a dog has fouled or not having a suitable bag is not a reasonable excuse.

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Their powers allow them to take control of their assets, repossess the property and gain entry to a property.

Councillor Tony Bradford wondered how much Ledbury suffered from these crimes.

"Last time I looked no one had been prosecuted for leaving dog poo in Herefordshire," he said.

"I think the problem is witnessing it happen," said Coun Harvey.

"We have had the issue on multiple occasions that there have been persistent offenders."

But coun Bradford doesn't see the point of the expense.

He said volunteers previously taking on similar roles had given it up after lack of work.

Councillor Nick Sims said he felt like the underfunded police service was being put on the council.

This would leave councils to provide the money that should be coming from a different budget, he said.

But councillor Matthew Eakin said they should at least enquire and discuss it with Ross.

Councillors voted in favour of this.