On the spot £40 fines for cannabis users

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 13:59

ON THE spot fines of £40 could be handed out to people caught with small amounts of cannabis, a Scottish Government report said today.

The study recommended that increased use of fixed penalty notices by the police should be considered.

It would mean fines can be given out on the spot for offences like possession of personal amounts of cannabis, minor thefts and minor assaults.

The report examined the police's use of fixed penalty notices.

A total of 83% of police officers surveyed backed the use of spot fines for anyone caught with small amounts of cannabis.

And senior police officers were "mostly supportive" of the move.

"This was felt to be a proportionate means of dealing with a minor offence which would also save a lot of police time," the report said.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We intend to consult key partners and stakeholders on any proposals to change the list of offences for which fixed penalty notices can be issued.

Police officers handed out 65,490 fixed penalty notices between April 2007 and March 2009.

The fines can be used for ten offences but 94% of all tickets issued have been for just three: drinking in public, breaching the peace and urinating/defecating in public.

Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said the report had shown that almost 22,000 hours of police officers' time has been freed up across Scotland because of more spot fines being issued for low level offences.

"It is right that anyone committing a serious crime should continue to be brought before a sheriff to face the full range of penalties available to the court.

"However for less serious offences, such as consuming alcohol in the street, these figures show that our police officers are punishing low level antisocial behaviour swiftly and effectively, hitting perpetrators in their pockets.

"This is swift and visible justice for those who commit acts of anti-social behaviour in our communities and hits them in their pockets."