Drop in police fines for yobs

THE number of antisocial behaviour fines handed out by Lothian and Borders Police has fallen by nearly a fifth, new figures have shown.

A total of 2472 of the £40 fines were issued by the force between last April and December, compared with 2970 for the same period a year before, a drop of 17 per cent.

In Edinburgh, the issuing of fines during the period fell from 1689 to 1360.

As well as punishing drunken behaviour, fixed penalty notices have been given for vandalism, breach of the peace and malicious mischief.