Swift justice fine in Tayside
31 Mar 05
Troublemakers and drunks face fixed penalty notices of £40 in Tayside
Tayside Police have been given new powers to issue fixed penalty notice for 10 crimes including breach of the peace and being drunk and incapable.
Under the year-long pilot scheme announced by the Scottish Executive yesterday, they will be able to use the powers under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 in a bid to cut down on paperwork and the amount of time police have to spend in court.
The Lord Advocate has give the officers guidance on the circumstances in which consideration should be given to issuing such a notice.
Once a penalty notice has been issued the recipient must either pay the amount shown on the notice or request a court hearing within 28 days from date of issue.
Payment of the notice involves no admission of guilt and removes both the liability to conviction and a record of criminal conviction.