De Beauvoir residents are being encouraged to head out and take snaps of dog muck in the latest drive to clean up the area.
The ward is now part of the ‘Love Clean Hackney’ campaign, which asks residents to report environmental incidents such as fly-tipping, graffiti and dog fouling to the council by sending a photo via an app.
The app is intended to help the council’s environmental officers, by allowing them to focus on the most mess-prone areas, as well as to help residents, who can plan their journeys to avoid muck.
However, locals are reacting with bemusement – instead noting that self-policing is a more effective measure.
A resident of De Beauvoir Road, who did not want to be named, said: “I haven’t got time to take pictures of dog sh*t. I clean up my dog’s sh*t and I mouth off at anyone I see that doesn’t.
“I’m sure lots of yummy mummies will like it but ultimately it’s just another scheme from Hackney Council that means well but is flawed.”
De Beauvoir has been blighted by environmental issues, including dog fouling, fly tipping and graffiti, with known trouble-spots on the south west corner of De Beauvoir Square and the west side of Mortimer Road.
According to one local, who lives on De Beauvoir Square, the problem is so bad that a road cleaner in the area is on the verge of quitting.
Neil, who lives on Essex Road, is more positive: “I think it is a good idea, but what sort of pictures are they expecting? If I stood in poo would I have to take a picture of the bottom of my shoe?”
A council spokesman said: “If possible the photos should help identify the location of the problem – extreme close ups are less useful.”
