Police use Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for anti social behaviour

Lothian and Borders Police is preparing to launch the latest tool to tackle antisocial behaviour – fixed penalty notices. In terms of Summary Justice Reform, this alternative to current practice is one of several direct measures now available to both the police and Procurators Fiscal.

As from Tuesday 31st July Lothian and Borders police officers will be able to issue fines to people who commit an antisocial offence.

The scheme is designed to offer police officers effective alternative means of dealing with low-level, antisocial and nuisance offending including breaches of the peace, vandalism, drunk in a public place and urinating in a public place.

The notices give offenders the opportunity to pay a fixed fine of £40 directly to the court or request a court hearing, which will result in a police officer submitting a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

By issuing a £40 fixed penalty notice for certain types of offences, the amount of time previously spent by officers making an arrest, taking the person into a police station, completing paperwork and attending court will be significantly reduced.

Futhermore, Lothian and Borders Police will be the first Force in Scotland to use Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) or electronic notebooks to issue fines on the spot. This will result in rapid and accurate direct electronic transfer of relevant data to the District Courts who will be wholly responsible for the enforcement of the fines. Again, this results in further savings of time for police officers and the courts.

Currently 500 police officers from Lothian and Borders Police have been fully trained to use this new technology to issue fixed penalty notices. By December 2007 the Force aims to have in excess of 1,000 officers capable.

It is estimated that this process will save police officers a total of 2 hours per fine issued. Issuing a projected 1,700 tickets will result in saving of at least 425 officer days per year.

The use of a Fixed Penalty Notice comes into effect after a successful pilot in Tayside and is in use in several other forces. However, Lothian & Borders is the only force with the more efficient electronic process.

Mr Colin Peebles, Director of Corporate Services at Lothian and Borders Police, said:
"Lothian and Borders Police is firmly committed to improving the quality of life for communities in the Lothians and Borders. These notices should act as a deterrent to antisocial behaviour being committed whilst maximising the amount of time police officers can spend dealing with issues of a more serious nature.

"The issue of a fixed penalty notice is designed to enhance the options available to officers when dealing with an incident however it does not affect an officer's discretion or impact upon their power of arrest.

"At the same time, Lothian and Borders Police is proud to be the first in Scotland to use PDA e-notebooks to issue the notices, thereby freeing even more police time."

Anyone issued with a penalty notice will have 28 days in which to make the necessary payment arrangements at the relevant District Court by cash, cheque or postal order.