OXFORD City Council may intend to sound tough over dirty dogs, but we believe many owners will just cock a leg at its promised ‘crackdown’.

Consultation on extending its dog control powers sounds fine in theory.

The proposals are to ramp up the fine for dog fouling to £80 from £50 and formalise bans on the animals in play areas.

There would also be a limit on the number of dogs one person could take out in public and officers would be given the power to order them to be put on leads.

We argue with none of this.

Dog fouling is an ugly blight, and a small number of owners are criminally reckless when it comes to the safety of animals and people near their dogs.

But can the city council actually deliver?

Let’s look at the facts. The city is possibly about to cull 100 workers under public service cuts.

And last year it fined six dog owners for fouling — that works out at one every two months. Some might suggest you could fine six people in a moderately productive morning. On a Tuesday. In the rain.

Launching ‘crackdowns’ without the necessary backing, both in resources and long-term sustainability, only leads to greater ridiculing of the law.