A partnership initiative helping to tackle anti-social behaviour, protect public spaces and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors is celebrating its first anniversary on the Isle of Wight.

Launched in Newport in November 2025, Operation Clean and Safe brings together the Isle of Wight Council’s Public Realm Officer Team and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to carry out joint patrols across the Island, enforcing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and promoting responsible behaviour.

Over the past year, the operation has expanded across the Island, with officers carrying out patrols in other communities and towns including Cowes, Gurnard, Yarmouth, Ryde, Sandown, Lake, Shanklin, Wootton, Fishbourne and Havenstreet.

Officers have patrolled town centres, parks, transport hubs and other key locations, engaging with residents and visitors, providing advice, installing signage and identifying anti-social behaviour hotspots.

PSPOs are legal measures designed to help tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental offences that can negatively affect local communities.

As part of Operation Clean and Safe, officers have addressed issues including dog fouling, dogs off leads on roads, pavements and in restricted areas, littering, fly-posting and fly-tipping, while also checking that dogs are microchipped and registered in line with the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2023.

They have also been undertaking Duty of Care inspections to ensure businesses are complying with their legal obligations regarding the disposal of commercial waste, including the use of licensed waste carriers and the retention of appropriate Waste Transfer Notes.

The purpose of the patrols is to engage and educate the public, but officers do take enforcement action where necessary. This has resulted in 14 Official Warnings and 42 Fixed Penalty Notices being issued for a range of environmental offences including dogs off lead, littering and fly-tipping. Three notices were issued in relation to Microchipping Regulations.

Action from Operation Clean and Safe patrols also directly led to the Isle of Wight Council’s first prosecution for having a dog off a lead within land subject to a PSPO.

A man was found guilty of two counts of failing to keep his dog on a lead at St James Square on two separate occasions. The man was fined £660, ordered to pay costs of £85 and also paid a £264 surcharge.

PSPOs requiring dogs to be on leads in certain areas have been in force since 2020. They were renewed following public consultation in 2025 and are in place to ensure that our parks, beaches, cemeteries, recreation areas and roads remain clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Residents are encouraged to continue reporting environmental issues and anti-social behaviour through the council’s website or via PublicRealmOfficers@iow.gov.uk, while following council social media channels for updates on Operation Clean and Safe activity.

For more information about Public Space Protection Orders on the Isle of Wight, visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/article/2254/Public-Spaces-Protection-Order-PSPO.