Resources: Quick guide to ... fixed-penalty notices

1. Fixed-penalty notices can be issued to anyone over 10 years old. They were planned for antisocial behaviour, mainly of the environmental kind. That might be leaving litter - yes, including chewing gum and fag ends - or minor graffiti. More serious offences, such as drunkenness or shoplifting by those aged 16 and above, can be dealt with by penalty notices for disorder. Seven police areas participated in a year-long trial, extending penalty notices for disorder to 10- to 15-year-olds. An evaluation report will be published "in due course".

2, Police officers are fond of penalty notices. They cut down the paperwork and bureaucracy dramatically. Fines levied can range from 30 to 100 or more. The list of possible offences goes on and on - cycling on the pavement, hoax calls, chucking fireworks, trespassing on the railway, throwing stones at trains, consuming alcohol in a prohibited area, breach of the peace, minor vandalism, truancy and swearing in the street. Young people need to be aware of these. You may also do them a favour by pointing out that someone who supplies a false name and address to a police officer risks being fined 80 for wasting police time.