I WOULD like to reassure Mr Mitchell (Letters, January 8) that action is taken on a regular weekly basis to catch those irresponsible people who drop litter or allow their dogs to foul the city’s streets.

The street environment and enforcement team are out and about in the city, including the city centre, every week, at varying times and days and do issue fixed penalty notices to those they catch. Work is also undertaken to educate the public of all ages to try and stop the problem in the first place. Our dog warden service also patrol and issue fixed penalties to those they catch who fail to clear up after their dogs. In 2009/10, 28 fixed penalty notices of £75 were issued for dog fouling and 55 notices to those caught dropping litter, including cigarette ends.

Since March 2010, 119 notices have been issued for littering and three for dog fouling. Failure to pay leads to prosecution and two people appeared in York Magistrates’ Court in November for littering offences and were fined £240 plus costs of £240 and £90 plus £240 costs respectively.

Ann Reid, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, Grassholme, York.