Dogs on Beaches during Covid-19: Legislative Drafting Instructions

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A decision made on 23 April 2020

Decision Reference: MD-E-2020-0016
Decision Summary Title :	Dogs on beaches during Covid19 - Legislative Drafting Instructions		Date of Decision Summary:	20 April 2020
Decision Summary Author	Private Secretary		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report title :	Dogs on beaches during Covid19 - Legislative Drafting Instructions		Date of Written Report:	20 April 2020
Written Report author	Hospitality and Leisure Manager		Written Report: Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Legislative Drafting Instructions to amend the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959 to delay until 31 May 2020 the start date of restrictions on animals on beaches for this year only.
Decision: The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture (EDTSC) decided to extend the period that dogs can be on beaches without a lead to provide greater flexibility under the Covid19 Stay At Home instruction. The measure also applies to the riding of horses or ponies on beaches.
Reasons for Decision: Regulation 2(1)(h) of the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959 prohibits dogs on beaches between 10.30am and 6.00pm from 1st May to 30th September unless they are on a lead. It also prohibits the riding of horses or ponies. The Covid-19 Stay At Home instruction means people can only exercise with their animals for two hours a day, and delaying the start of the restrictions will provide greater flexibility for owners and increase the ability for social distancing.
Resource implications: There are no financial or manpower resource implications.
Action required: Officers are asked to liaise with HM Attorney General to prepare the necessary instructions, which will then be forwarded to the Legislative Drafting Office.
Signature: Senator S Pallett		Position: Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
Date signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed)

Dogs on Beaches during Covid-19: Legislative Drafting Instructions

Economic Development,

Tourism, Sport and Culture

Dogs on beaches during Covid-19: Legislative Drafting Instructions

POLICING OF BEACHES (AMENDMENT No.--) (JERSEY) REGULATIONS 201-

Background

Regulation 2(1)(h) of the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959 prohibits between the hours of 10.30am and 6.00pm during the period of the year commencing on 1st May and ending on 30th September to ride any horse or pony or bring any dog, or permit any dog of which the person is in charge, to be on the beach except on a lead.

Following the recently imposed ‘Stay at Home’ Covid-19 restrictions it is only permitted for persons to be outside for a maximum of two hours per day. As these restrictions includes the exercising of dogs it has now become increasingly popular to walk and exercise dogs on the Islands beaches.

As the current Policing of Beaches Regulations prohibits bringing a dog on to a beach except on a lead from 1st May it is expected that many dog owners will move from the beaches to inland locations including the narrow pathways around the headlands, the Railway Walk and sand dunes.

If this scenario is forthcoming it may cause issues with other walkers and social distancing requirements.

Change of Regulations

Delay the date requirement under Regulation 2(1)(h) from 1st May.

This particular change to the Regulations will see the date at which it is prohibited under Regulation 2(1)(h), to ride any horse or pony or bring any dog, or permit any dog of which the person is in charge, to be on the beach except on a lead, changed to the date at which the current ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions are lifted and the use of the Island’s beaches resume for normal activities, or at an alternative date announced by the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism Sport and Culture. This will enable the Minister to make a decision in the event of a phased lifting of Stay At Home restrictions.

Recommendation and Action

It is recommended that the Minister approves the changes to the Regulations which will delay the commencement date of which it is not permitted to ride any horse or pony or bring any dog, or permit any dog of which the person is in charge, to be on the beach except on a lead and that the necessary law drafting work be undertaken.

The date at which Regulation 2(1)(h) will commence will coincide with lifting of the ‘Stay at Home’ and when the beach can be used for ‘normal’ activities.

Resource Implications:

No financial implication will arise from these changes.

Hospitality and Leisure Manager - 20 April 2020