Police fine 80 offenders forcausing a wee spot of bother

Published on Friday 14 March 2008 09:21

MORE than 80 people caught relieving themselves in public in the Lothians have been hit with on-the-spot fines for antisocial behaviour in the last six months.

Following new powers which came into effect last summer police have being handing out 40 penalties to offenders for urinating in a public place.

Police revealed today a total of 425 fines have been given out for antisocial incidents such as road-rage arguments, being drunk and incapable and minor street disturbances.

Around 70 people a month are now being fined, although police chiefs expect that number to rise to 100 in the coming year.

Offenders such as vandals and noisy drunks were previously dealt with using more traditional powers, and it was hoped the fines would reduce antisocial behaviour and help clear a backlog of court cases.

A police spokesman said: "By issuing a 40 fine for certain types of offences, the amount of time previously spent by officers making an arrest, taking the person into the police station, completing paperwork and attending court has been reduced.

"From that perspective it is clear that the introduction of on-the-spot fines has had a positive impact on the way officers deal with low-level offences."

Under the six-month crackdown, three individuals were fined for refusing to leave a licensed premises, 82 for urinating in public, 11 for vandalism, 28 for drinking in public, 265 for breach of the peace and 17 for malicious mischief.

The legislation also allows fines for being drunk in a licensed premises, being drunk in charge of a child in public and loud singing or playing music, although officers are yet to penalise any of these offences in the Lothians.

The fines are issued using new hand-held electronic notebooks, or PDAs, but many officers in the city centre have not yet been taught how to use them.

At least 800 frontline police are now using the PDAs, but this is expected to double in the next year as virtually all beat officers are brought up to speed.

In the scheme's first six months, 234 fines were issued in Edinburgh, 116 in Midlothian and East Lothian, and 75 in West Lothian.

Offenders have to pay within 28 days and the fines can be challenged in court. The notices are not issued to under-16s and payment is not be recorded as a criminal conviction.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Officers across Scotland, including in Lothian and Borders, now have the ability to take swift and visible action against lower-level offences, while being able to spend more time where the public want them - on our streets."