SNP 'soft on crime' with on-the-spot fine plan

Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 22:04

SNP ministers have been accused of being soft on crime after a Scottish Government paper recommended extending fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) to minor assault, minor theft and cannabis use and possession.

Under the plans, offenders would be given a 40 on-the-spot fine, escaping potential court action as well as a criminal record, leading opposition politicians to claim the plans would "dumb down" the Scottish justice system and send out the wrong message to criminals.

The move comes as ministers prepare to push through a presumption against six-month sentences in Scotland, a plan critics have said will allow most perpetrators of domestic abuse to escape jail.

In a review of the use of FPNs by police since they were introduced in 2007, the government paper called on their deployment to be widened for people caught with small amounts of cannabis and those committing minor assaults or theft.

In total, 83 per cent of police officers consulted backed the drugs proposals, with senior officers found to be "mostly supportive" of the move to free up police time.

However, the recommendations ignored warnings by some police figures that including assault offences would be "too risky" because officers were in no position to fully assess the extent of the harm suffered by the victim before issuing the punishment.

Widening FPNs to minor thefts also goes against advice from some respondents who highlighted the high level of drug addicts convicted of stealing.

"Shoplifting was said to be often a means for individuals to get money to fund drug addiction," the report said.

"In these situations, FPN fines may not be a useful means of preventing future offending."

In its recommendations the report, now being considered by Scottish ministers, also resisted calls to remove certain crimes – such as being drunk in charge of a child and vandalism – from the current list of FPN offences.

Fears were raised that victims of vandalism were losing out on compensation and respondents warned the 40 fine was invariably less than cost of the damage caused by the offender.

Although not specifically recommended, the report also said ministers should examine the case for crimes involving fireworks, being drunk under the age of 18 and street trading offences to be dealt with in this way.

Opposition politicians said the recommendations sent out the wrong message to would-be criminals.

Labour's justice spokesman, Richard Baker said: "The SNP are soft on crime and there is great concern over their failure to tackle offending.

"There will be concern at extending fixed-penalty notices to cover offences such as minor assault, particularly as under the SNP so few of these fines are actually being paid.

"That doesn't send out the right message on offending."

John Lamont, the Tories' community safety spokesman said he was "appalled" at the recommendations: "SNP ministers can add to this list (of offences covered by FPNs] at any time and Conservatives believe they must resist any further dumbing down of our justice system."

But community safety minister Fergus Ewing said the report showed the increased use of FPNs was freeing up police time, adding: "This is swift and visible justice for those who commit acts of antisocial behaviour and hits them in their pockets."