Leeds shoppers have slammed mounted police for not picking up their horse’s poo after the animal excreted all over the busiest high street in the city-centre.
The dung was left in Briggate, in between Footlocker and Marks & Spencer, at about 1pm today (February 8). Shoppers had to either navigate around the poo or step over it, with their noses pinched, while visiting the parade of shops along the bustling high street.
Shoppers have hit out at the police for leaving it to the street cleaners, expecting others to clean up their own mess and not leading by example and one even suggested mounted police should be handed a “big carrier bag” at the beginning of their shift to deal with the muck.
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West Yorkshire Police said their officers were not required to clean up horse poo and in areas of heavy footfall, street cleaners are “always” contacted to attend. The force added there is currently no legislation surrounding removal of horse muck.
Retired nurse and mother of five Eileen Walker, 65, said: “If I was on a horse and my horse did it, I’d be expected to shift it! Like dog muck, you’ve got to pick it up after yourself. They shouldn’t be doing that.
“I just think it should be cleaned and not left to the street cleaners. Horses are horses, they do what they do. If it was you and your dog, you’d be expected to move it,” added the Crossgates woman.
Adam Bowler, 37, from Roundhay, said: “A lot of people do complain about it, not just horse muck but dog muck as well. That people should clean up their own mess. Maybe police should bring something else with them, like everyone else has to. A big carrier bag, I would say.
“They’re telling members of the public to clean up their mess so they should clean up their own mess as well.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Police officers are not required, in line with National Mounted policies, to stop their patrol in order to deal with horse manure.
“In areas of heavy pedestrian footfall, the local council is always contacted to ask for street cleaners to attend. There is no legislation in place regarding the removal of horse droppings from public places.”
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