A debate has broken out after a police staff member reportedly ordered a man to clean his pet dog's urine, according to the Telegraph.
Last week, Steve Schuurman, 56, was taking Margot, his six-year-old rescue Saluki dog through Bournemouth’s main square for a walk.
She cocked her leg to urinate.
After the dog urinated, as the pair started walking off, Steve Schuurman, 56, a NHS worker, says a police woman shouted at him.
Describing the Dorset woman as ‘aggressive', he said she shouted: ‘clear your f—–g dog p–s.'
According to Steve Schuurman, he would have cleaned up faeces, but he wasn't sure what the police expected him to do with urine (stock image)
When he challenged her language, according to Steve,a council community safety patrol officer then told him to move on, threatening him with arrest if he didn't.
The Dorset Police and Bournemouth Council were in the area that day as part of a ‘day of action'.
They had a stall and van in the town centre after it has been the scene of several high-profile crimes, including a fatal stabbing.
According to Mr Schuurman, he would have cleaned up faeces, but he did not know what the police expected him to do with his canine's urine.
He has now reported the incident to the Dorset Police complaints department.
It says it is ‘looking into the full circumstances'.
Mr Schuurman accused the woman of [getting]really aggressive].
He claimed she was ‘waving her hands around and putting her hands on her hips, saying it was disgusting]'
Steve Schuurmann says he has reported the police to to the Dorset Police complaints department (stock image)
When he asked for an apology, he claims he’d be arrested if he didn’t leave by one of the two community safety officers on the scene.
A Bournemouth Council spokesperson told the Telegraph: “Our community safety officers were only involved in this incident in an effort to de-escalate the situation and seek a resolution for the gentleman involved.
‘They acted with politeness and a calm manner throughout.
‘None of our staff heard the police staff member swear, as is alleged.'
A Dorset Police spokesperson added: ‘All relevant lines of proportionate enquiry will be assessed to establish exactly what happened and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.'
