Car parks closed, lay-bys blocked and trees cut as councils try to stop 'dogging'
Dozens of car parks have been shut, lay-bys blocked and trees cut down around the country in attempts to deter the outdoor sex practice known as “dogging”.
Councils, police forces and park authorities are also carrying out night-time patrols, putting up warning signs and painting double yellow lines in secluded areas. The authorities insist the drastic and sometimes costly actions are needed to deter “doggers”, people who get a thrill from watching strangers have sex in parked cars.
But some claim the culprits should simply be arrested for the crimes indecent exposure or outraging public decency, rather than the law-abiding majority suffering restricted access to roads or the countryside.
The steps taken by town halls in particular to halt dogging were highlighted this week when it emerged that Surrey County Council is considering releasing a herd of bulls into a field. The local authority has had more than 300 complaints about people having sex near the Hog’s Back lay-byon the A31 at Puttenham, and believes the bull option is “viable”.
A Daily Telegraph survey has found that councils across Britain have taken similar action in recent years :-
- Earlier this year 6,000 trees were cut down at a beauty spot on the outskirts of Darwen, Lancashire, with councillors claiming it would act as “a deterrent to people who go dogging”.
- In Leicestershire, a wildlife area was bulldozed at a dogging hotspot in 2007. Residents complained that mature ash and beech trees had been chopped down at Groby Pool, by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, but that strangers continued to meet there for sex.
- A popular picnic site in Derbyshire was transformed, with bushes cut down to make the car park more visible and gates costing £1,000 installed at the Highoredish site. Derbyshire County Council also restricted access to the car park to daylight hours and weekends during the summer, with nearby residents volunteering to lock the gates.
- Two lay-bys in Durham, one near Crook and the other north of Tow Law, were closed down partly because of “problems of anti-social behaviour of a sexual nature”.
- Durham County Council has also closed a car park at Beamish Burnduring the week.
- The same authority has cut back trees and shrubs at two sites near Chester-le-Streetand Causey Archnear Stanley, where £1,000 was also spent putting up fencing to keep doggers out.
- Warrington Borough Council installed a “concrete barrier” and demolished three disused buildings near lanes in Burtonwood “following numerous reports and complaints”, and also took action on two car parks near woods.
- An beauty spot in the Cotswolds became so notorious for open-air sex that earlier this year pranksters put up a fake heritage road sign stating: “Official dogging area.”
Gloucestershire County Council has responded by clearing scrub and bushes at Barrow Wakeviewpoint, and may close another park at night.
- In Alkrington Woods, Rochdale MBC closed a car park temporarily and installed CCTV cameras.
- Kent County Council blocked off a lay-by on the A249 at Stockbury despite complaints from lorry drivers who said they used it as a legitimate rest stop
- a picnic site near Stowmarket was shut down by Suffolk County Council.
- The Forestry Commissions in England, Scotland and Wales have also taken action to deter doggers, in some places putting up warning signs and in others cutting back vegetation to make secluded car parks more visible.
Source,
Believe some of these locations have already been mentioned, but nice to summarise occasionally
the police were at hazelrigg friday nite 8th october
Reading back through the posts of the last year it seems that the police have been pretty busy justifying their budgets. Hopefully the political climate will cause the police to review their activities that are not protecting some part of the community (be that doggers or locals that have an issue).
It may however be time for some clarification on the legal position of dogging...
I am pretty comfortable with where I stand, but it may help others to understand their rights in light of the latest legal views.
That one word sums it up. If we are all discrete, we incur the wrath of no one- present a united front to drive away the thugs and racers.
We need to stick together..
Folks watch out for a gang of youths posing as doggers. I was down at the Magnum car park when someone flashed their lights. I approached and saw two cars side by side. I parked up beside them and someone tried to blind me with a laser pen and they became abusive. I drove off and they gave chase trying to run me off the road. they followed me all the way to the A77 before giving up. Also watch out for people camping this weekend ay Portencross and the dunes at Stevenston
hi all
the hill has gained a tea van when he was appling for his liecence her told all the dogger he would be open late nights and he was going to get rid of the day time gay guys etc. how ever there are many of us that think he is playing both ends to confirm this there was a couple 2 fridays ago having fun after am with a few guys
the tea boy circled the carpark before he left which he never does 20min in comes the police taking details for all fallowed by a backup van.
we didnt see him make the call but its not rocket science to put it together.
so please be carefull
and above all dont buy anything from him at any time!!
best of luck all and happen hunting
Police are having an extra clampdown on Hedley Hall Woods. They are stepping up their patrols -
I went up to hollingworth lake last night and got me collar felt by the rozzers, just be warned everyone, they are patrolling the area. Should be catching the rioters! To be fare to them they were very nice, and let me off with a polite ticking off
Just be careful all
Cheers
Stu :sad:
They have been doing the same at Cannock Chase as well.
Stu, if you went rioting, the old bill would have left you alone.. doggers are more of a concern. ???
Complaints from residents are leading to increased police patrols in the area.
Details here
Personally, I think the neighbours shouldn't be so nosey....
Well done for warning people. Those looking for genuine fun will be grateful.
just as a couple go over the dunes a cop car parks along side and 2 cops follow them..then 2 other cops started checking other cars...every one heads for exit and get a talking too..i move further up the coast only to be followed again by 4 cops...saturday night shitta....beware
have been informed by reliable source that the police are also installing covert cctv cameras at various sites in the north east to record number plates and car movement . so be careful . have stopped going now , not worth the risk .
well thats me done for now not worth the risk if cameras are about...tryed a little further up the coast last night and a cop car was parked up empty.. the only action is in cars as theres nothing else but a huge drop and rock a few empty cars where there the only thing i can think of is that the cops where checking if they were fishing and went down to look..
Ive been stopped at dogging sites by the police, and always tell them the truth, never had any problems!
Have visited many sites over the years, seen police drive in randomly, they never bother us.
If asked what we're up to, they will get no lies from us.
In my experience I have found they have no interest in what we do and are happy to bugger off and leave us to it.
Stop worrying so much and have fun! Remember to exercise a little common sense, caution and you will be fine.
Does it really matter seeing as it was six years ago ???
Is there any dogging left in Warrington?
Purple, seems completely dead to me as i wrote in the topic below... but then again some say theres still some action goes on, just need to find out where !! ;-)
