Teen drinkers and vandals face on-the-spot fines

Underage drinkers, vandals, litter louts and petty thieves could all face on-the-spot fines when caught by police, under new laws coming into force today.

Under the new powers, police can issue £80 fixed penalty notices to anyone caught drinking underage, buying alcohol for a minor, shoplifting for the first time or causing minor criminal damage. People dropping litter will face £50 penalty notices.

People committing these offences will no longer be let off with a verbal warning. From today, they will face immediate punishment and court action if they refuse to pay.

These fines will make people think twice and will increase the number of low level offenders we can bring to justice, the Home Office said.

Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears, said: "Vandalising property, fouling streets with litter, blind drunk teenagers causing trouble or stealing for a buzz – this is anti-social, criminal behaviour and a scourge on society.

"We know that fixed penalty notices make big savings in police time, freeing them up to patrol the streets, they enable the courts to concentrate on more serious offences and give offenders an immediate punishment. They are supported by police and a key part of the Government’s campaign to deliver a culture change of tackling, not tolerating low level nuisance and disorder."

Paul Blewitt, Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesperson on penalty notices for disorder, and Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, welcomed the move, adding: "Penalty Notices are proving to be a very effective tool for officers in tackling offending; reducing paperwork, freeing up police and court time and releasing officers to visibly police our communities.

However, the Crime and Society Foundation has said that the government was "confusing the undesirable with the criminal".

Society director Richard Garside said: "The dropped sweet wrapper or the stubbed-out cigarette might be unsightly. But summary justice and a £50 fine is an ill-conceived response. Slapping fines on teenagers swigging cider in the local park might play well with 'disgusted of Tunbridge Wells'. But it is hardly the way to encourage a grown-up approach to drinking."

Home Office figures published today show that 23,333 penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) have been issued to date in England and Wales since April 2004.

(gmcg/sp)