Does anyone know the laws on dogs and beaches on the South Coast, particularly Shoreham?

I was on Shoreham beach today, with my kids and some friends, in an area I know dogs are allowed. My dog was off lead but not running all over the place, she mainly just follows the kids around. I don't let her wander off or approach other people.

A man arrived at the same part of the beach, in a suit, wearing a special police officers badge, with his kids. He immediately came over to us and demanded I put my dog on a lead, which I did. A few minutes later I went over and asked him if dogs were allowed off lead on this beach, as I thought they were. He said "Dogs should be on a lead when they are anywhere the public have access to, because there might children that are afraid of dogs", I said, "Are you saying my dog shouldn't be off lead in public, because I don't think that's right", he tapped his special badge and repeated, "They should be on a lead anywhere the public have access and if you're asked to put your dog on lead you should do so, I know what I'm talking about."
I walked away, as I didn't really want an argument, but felt a bit annoyed and would like to know where I stand if I bump into him again, as I don't intend to always keep her on a lead!
I've looked on the Adur District website and it says dogs are allowed on the beach, but must be under strict control, it doesn't mention leads.

ask the dog warden, he will know what that councils rules are

Hmmm. That sounds very odd and dodgy tbh.. My dogs are let off lead down there too.. I've not seen any signs around there that say dogs need to be on a lead. You didn't get the officers name did you?
I know on certain beaches in Hove dogs are not allowed during certain times of the year, but where dogs are allowed, it is off lead..

I have just read through the Adur's website re dogs on beaches and none as you say are dog free. It does say about DCO which doesn't cover the beach, only the wide water areas apparently to have dogs on leads at all times. You have to put your dog on a lead if requested by an officer of the council in any other place in the Adur area.

How about we meet you down there next time with mine and they can all have a run off lead on the beach ;-)

Hi Sue.
I didn't make a note of his name, wish I had though. I have a strong suspicion he was just a dog hater, throwing his weight around with his special badge.
If he'd approached in a more friendly manner and said, "My kids are afraid of dogs, would you mind putting yours on a lead please?" I would have had no problem.

My friend lives down there now and we'll probably go to that bit of beach quite regularly, so would like to know where I stand. She said she's phoning the council about it tomorrow.

If he saw all 3 of ours running about off lead he'd probably pass out!! :)
(P.S. Must meet your puppy soon!)

That does sound dodgy - like you say, if he'd asked nicely that would be fine, but throwing his weight as a police officer around to enforce something that isn't a law or rule is just wrong.

I get sick of this on the forest where I walk daily. The dog haters say that any dogs not on leads are "out of control" and some stupid pompous twit last week said that my dogs were "filthy and smelly" just because they had been for a cooling dip in the stream.  We will never get beyond the ignorance of those who hate dogs.

I'd have a look at what powers " Special " police officers have, all sounds like the guys on some sort of power trip, I'd certainly be asking him for his name and number ( I'm assuming they are required to have a number and have it visable ) and what station he works out off. I'm sure these " Specials " are just volunteers and don't have any real powers apart from intimidation, which this one seems to have been pretty eager to put into effect, I loath bullys .

I didn't realise that Specials worked in plain clothes.

When not in uniform they have the same powers as Joe Public, having a badge has obviously gone to his head.

I've no idea what these special police officers actually do. Is it an actual job or do they just volunteer in their spare time?
If he was meant to be working, I'd like to know why he was sat on a beach smoking, with his kids. If he wasn't working, why would he wear a suit on the beach?

There were other people sitting nearby, who said it was all a bit odd.
Really wish I'd taken his name and number!

Would definitely take this up with your local Dog Warden.

At worst you may be told you were wrong, but usually there are very clear signs.
At the least you will find out where and how dogs are allowed on what beaches when....
At the even better, you might blow the whistle on some kind of nutcase jobworth or vigilante!

Shoreham, from my memory, is a relaxed place not a really 'posh type' beach like Worthing & Hove etc... unless I'm thinking of a different part. I know I used to walk with my friend's dog there not more than 7 years ago, and even earlier than that I went to an all-night beach party near the old chimney.... Oops, giving too much away!

They are indeed volunteers http://www.policespecials.com/ but surprisingly they have full police powers, but they do wear a uniform, so this chump had no power to tell you to put your dog on a lead in this manner.
I'm getting really narked about this the more I think about it lol.

I'd of been suspicious of him fullstop myself.  He would have no law and doubt that he was anything to do with the law as he was with children.  What worries me is were they his children?  It sounds very strange.

I'm not in that area but I expect he was just throwing his weight around however where I live different beaches have different rules.  I took my Akita to the beach back in the spring and someone approached me - very nicely I might add and asked if I would be letting her offlead, she doesn't go offlead so I told him so and he just responded saying its because they have special areas of the beach that the dogs can play freely and other areas where they should be on lead and he was happy to show me where.  This approach I was quite happy with as I wouldn't have realised otherwise.

I don't know the law, but I have a strong suspicion that had he been a bona fide officer then surely he would not have his children with him whilst working in his 'official' capacity. How sad if has in fact had the badge just made up for him.

I don't know about different areas but I know that, by law, no dog should be off-lead in our district.  There was a by-law passed in about 1970?ish to state this but no-one really bothers. 
But...I have to agree with the man.  I would never take my dogs to public places and let them off-lead and I know for a fact mine are friendly and stick with my kids only.  But my nephew is terrified.  It only takes an unknown dog in the vacinity and he is practically paralised with fear.  Just because we are dog lovers, doesn't mean everyone should be or need to put up with their presence.  If you take your dog, I really feel it should be on-lead.
Also, last week our picnic at a local beach got completely ruined by 2 dogs which ran through our picnic scoffing as they went, then ran up to another couple and the lady spilled her drink all over herself, then knocked over a child into the water.  I totally understand that yours wasn't acting this way at all but some idiots ruin dog ownership for us all.  That was one day I was glad I didn't have mine as I think I may have been hounded off the beach!!  And yes, mine do stay on-lead the entire time.

I just looked at the Council site for that area and all it says is that dogs must be kept under strict control at all times. Now I guess to a non-dog person strict control can only mean on a lead and to them any dog off lead isn't under control. If you can be sure your dog is trained well enough to come to you when called then I can't see any problem. Definately have a word with the dog warden.
Whatever, he certainly seems to like the wee bit of power that his badge gives him !.

Dog warden isn't in till Monday apparently, but I'll try and speak to him/her then.
I don't intend to always have her on a lead if I don't have to. That's part of the pleasure of having a well trained dog.
I know there are beaches in places such as Cornwall, where dogs are permitted, but have to be on lead and it's usually stated clearly.

There are plenty of beaches that are dog free if people have that much of a problem and I'd always put on lead if the area starts to get busy anyway.

Hi have you been on this site,I live in Lancing and never had any trouble on the beach http://www.adur.gov.uk/tourism/beaches.htm#shorehambeach Debby

Thanks debby1, that was the site I originally looked at for info.
After having a good look through the dog control section, I found this info in 'Dogs on leads by direction'

"an authorised officer of the Council may only give a direction under this Order
to put and keep a dog on a lead if such restraint is reasonably necessary to
prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog likely to cause annoyance or
disturbance to any other person [on any land to which this order applies] or
the worrying or disturbance of any animal or bird."

Bearing in mind, my dog was about 12ft from me and happily playing in the sea with my children and their friends, I think he was jumping the gun a bit. I usually go to  Ferring beach, have done for years. I've never had a problem there.
After I've spoken to the Dog Warden for advice, I think I'll print off the relevant bits from that website, just in case I come across him again. I'm assuming being a special police officer, doesn't make him an officer of the council??

As I pointed out to him at the time, if his children were worried by the presence of my dog, he only had to ask. Barking orders at people unnecessarily rarely gets a good response.

On another note. Before he arrived I was pleased to see that my Daughters friend, who was with us and has been very nervous around dogs for years, had finally gained enough confidence in my dog to be playing with her in the sea. She does water rescue work and the kids were taking it in turns to get her to tow them in :)

>I'm assuming being a special police officer, doesn't make him an officer of the council??<br />

It makes him an officer of the force he works for. As soon as he shows his badge it places him 'on duty', so if you come across him again and he does the same thing, get his name and the force he works for, more than likely Sussex, however it could be Surrey or the Met if he lives locally.

> I don't know about different areas but I know that, by law, no dog should be off-lead in our district.&nbsp; There was a by-law passed in about 1970?ish to state this but no-one really bothers.

Cracar, most bylaws have now been replaced by Dog Control Orders.  The order pertaining to dogs on lead is the one least used so its worth checking with your Local Authority.  Even if they have this order in place they must be very clear about where it applies and will usually print maps or areas of exception. 

Many beaches have DCO's that apply during the summer only