Row erupts after man is told to 'clean up dog's wee'

Bournemouth resident Steve Schuurman, 56, was walking his dog on the Square when it stopped to take a wee. 

During the incident last week, BCP Council and Dorset Police had been holding a day of action involving police staff, PCSOs and council community officers. 

Steve said that a female police staff member swore and told him to clear up his dog's pee.

It is alleged that an argument broke out between Steve, the police staff member and a BCP Council community safety patrol officer. 

Image from the incident (Image: Steve Shuurman)

He said: “They had a stall [in the Square] with a police van and my dog Margot did a pee. As I moved on, I heard this woman with red hair shouting ‘clear your [sic] dog p***’. 

“I looked over and she got really aggressive, so I started to walk away. Within thirty seconds, she was waving her hands around and putting her hands on her hips. 

“These two [CSAS officers] came up and I said I want an apology, and one said ‘you can’t demand an apology’. 

“This other guy said ‘you need to move, if not you will be arrested’. I was so upset.” 

The incident left Steve feeling “upset” and he questioned the effectiveness of the ‘day of action’ put on by the two authorities. 

Bournemouth Square

He added: “Yes, the dog has done a pee, but if she did a poo I would have picked it up. 

“I thought if I don’t move away, and I’m a good person, I will lose my temper. There’s a point with anybody.” 

BCP Council defended its CSAS officers, saying they responded in a “polite and calm manner”. 

A spokesperson said: “Our CSAS 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 members nearby heard the police staff member swear, as is alleged.” 

Steve reported the incident to Dorset Police’s complaints department, which said the “full circumstances are now being looked into”. 

A spokesperson for the force said: “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.”