Ref. 25559-13POLICE in Swindon will soon have the power to fine yobs up to £80 for public order offences.

From April, officers patrolling Swindon town centre will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to law breakers in much the same way as Swindon Council's parking wardens currently issue tickets to illegally parked motorists.

And Wiltshire Constabulary estimates around 1,000 fixed penalty notices will be dished out within the first year of the system being operational. However, the money potentially some £80,000 will go straight into central government coffers.

It is hoped the measure will put a stop to a variety of petty offences like hoax calls to emergency services and drunken behaviour.

Assistant chief constable, Peter Vaughan, said: "This is an aspect of the Criminal Justice and Police Act which is designed to tackle nuisance and other anti-social behaviour within our communities.

"Fixed penalty notices provide the police with an option to deal with those who offend in this manner where it is not necessary to place them through the court system.

"This is not taking the easy option, but a method of reducing bureaucracy and thus enhancing the service delivery to our communities. However, this system does not affect an individual's right to choose the court process."

Pilot schemes are already in operation in some parts of the country and the plan is to make the project nationwide from April.

The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 will give forces the power to issue on the spot fines for a raft of minor public disorder and anti-social behaviour offences for offenders aged over 18. But the severity of the fine will depend on what the category of offence is.

Upper tier offences will carry a fine of £80 and include wasting police time and false calls to the emergency services.

Lower tier offences, like being drunk and disorderly, buying alcohol for a person under the age of 18, throwing fireworks and drinking in a public place, carry a fine of £40.

Sub officer Joe Tray, based at Swindon fire station in Drakes Way, approves.

He said: "We get somewhere in the region of 100 malicious calls every year and any incentive to drive down this figure has to be welcomed.

"Our time is wasted attending hoax call-outs and obviously can be better spent responding to genuine emergencies."

Since parking in Swindon was decriminalised on September 1 last year council wardens have dished out more than 9,500 tickets. And the fines, which cost £60 but are reduced to £30 if paid within a fortnight, have netted the authority some £192,063.

Giles Sheldrick