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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Police given new disorder powers | Police given new disorder powers |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Scottish police forces have been given new powers to impose on-the-spot fines to tackle anti-social behaviour. | Scottish police forces have been given new powers to impose on-the-spot fines to tackle anti-social behaviour. |
| The Scottish Executive said fines would be used to tackle a number of crimes, including drunkenness and vandalism. | |
| Scotland's eight forces will be using the powers by the end of the year, after Tayside Police piloted the use of £40 fixed penalty notices. | Scotland's eight forces will be using the powers by the end of the year, after Tayside Police piloted the use of £40 fixed penalty notices. |
| Ministers said the fines allow officers to take swift and visible action against anti-social behaviour. | Ministers said the fines allow officers to take swift and visible action against anti-social behaviour. |
| The move also aims to free up police time to focus on more serious crimes. | The move also aims to free up police time to focus on more serious crimes. |
| Speaking in Dundee, Deputy Justice Minister Johann Lamont said: "Crime is falling, including incidents of serious violence, but we know that loutishness, drunkenness and vandalism, if unchallenged, can still cause misery to the law-abiding majority in our communities." | Speaking in Dundee, Deputy Justice Minister Johann Lamont said: "Crime is falling, including incidents of serious violence, but we know that loutishness, drunkenness and vandalism, if unchallenged, can still cause misery to the law-abiding majority in our communities." |
| Tayside Chief Constable John Vine said the pilot, described as a success in an independent evaluation by Abertay University, proved to be above expectations. | Tayside Chief Constable John Vine said the pilot, described as a success in an independent evaluation by Abertay University, proved to be above expectations. |
| Local people want to see more police on their street Shona Robison SNP MSP | Local people want to see more police on their street Shona Robison SNP MSP |
| "The process is straightforward and efficient and has made a difference in reducing bureaucracy for the police and our other criminal justice partners," he said. | "The process is straightforward and efficient and has made a difference in reducing bureaucracy for the police and our other criminal justice partners," he said. |
| The fine rises to £60 for offenders who fail to pay within 28 days or challenge it in court. | The fine rises to £60 for offenders who fail to pay within 28 days or challenge it in court. |
| Despite executive claims of a record number of police officers, the SNP said ministers had failed to back their anti-social behaviour policies with a sufficient presence. | Despite executive claims of a record number of police officers, the SNP said ministers had failed to back their anti-social behaviour policies with a sufficient presence. |
| Dundee East SNP MSP Shona Robison said: "Local people want to see more police on their street to back up the good work of the community wardens in making their streets feel safer." | Dundee East SNP MSP Shona Robison said: "Local people want to see more police on their street to back up the good work of the community wardens in making their streets feel safer." |
| Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie claimed that increased use of fixed penalty notices would create "pay-as-you-go criminals", who may be allowed to commit offences which would not be included on criminal records. | |
| "The Lib-Lab Pact is soft on crime, and even softer on criminals," she said. | |
| Officers in Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Northern Constabulary will start using fixed penalty notices in the spring. | Officers in Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Northern Constabulary will start using fixed penalty notices in the spring. |
| Grampian and Lothian and Borders will follow suit by the end of the summer, with the Strathclyde force beginning to use them by the end of 2007. | Grampian and Lothian and Borders will follow suit by the end of the summer, with the Strathclyde force beginning to use them by the end of 2007. |