Spot-fines system to go nationwide for more offences
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Your support makes all the difference.Spot fines for anti-social behaviour are to be extended nationwide and to other offences, Tony Blair announced yesterday. The extension of the scheme is expected to form part of a Criminal Justice Bill in the Queen's Speech next month.
On-the-spot fines of £40 or £80 were ridiculed when the idea was first floated by the Prime Minister. But they have proved popular with the police in four areas where they are being piloted for offences including threatening behaviour, being drunk and disorderly and making hoax 999 calls.
During the trial, the police added throwing fireworks to the list, and government sources said the police were pressing for the fines to be extended to other offences such as graffiti and dropping litter.
Mr Blair told the Commons the spot-fines system had been welcomed by police and local communities. He said: "Police need a simple way of enforcing the law. The purpose of fixed-penalty notices is to get round some of the bureaucracy associated with court processes. We believe these should not only be rolled out across the country, but we are looking at how the penalties can be extended." He added: "If the Conservative Party are opposed to this, which I think they are, they would be making a very big mistake."
The pilot schemes are being run in the West Midlands, Essex, Croydon in south London and north Wales.
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