BASINGSTOKE police have issued more than £10,000-worth of on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour in the past year, hitting yobs where it hurts - in the pocket.

The law enforcers began handing out the instant penalties to over-18s in February last year, for offences like being drunk and disorderly, drinking in the street and throwing fireworks.

The town's police chief is pleased with the initiative which, he says, has cut the time officers spend on red tape and has made the town safer.

But a former Basingstoke magistrate has expressed concern over the fairness of the measures.

A total of 153 on-the-spot fines - adding up to £10,200 - were issued in Basingstoke up to February 25, this year. Of these, 102 were the maximum £80 fines for serious offences, such as harassment. The rest were £40 penalties for lower level offences, such as being drunk and disorderly or trespassing on the railway.

Statistics from the police show that £3,680 of fines - around 36 per cent - were not settled within the 30-day time limit. The unpaid fines were registered for court action, which means they automatically increase by 50 per cent.

Superintendent Paul Netherton, head of Basingstoke police, said the fines - along with other initiatives, such as yellow card instant warnings - have worked well.

He said: "We are determined to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the town centre and I have had feedback that the town is a better place because of these measures.

"The fines mean officers don't have to prepare court files and spend time going to court where the offender would get the same fine, so this is saving a lot of police time.

"If we didn't have on-the-spot fines, these cases would go to court anyway. People will start paying once they realise they will end up there if they don't."

But Stan Parry, who served as a Basingstoke magistrate for 28 years, is concerned the fines do not take into account the adage of "innocent until proven guilty" or a person's ability to pay.

Offenders can still request a court hearing, but Mr Parry, from Beech Way, Winklebury, said they could be put off by the fear of legal costs.

He said: "It worries me that the police want to increase the number of crimes that can be dealt with in this way.

"This is about one individual deciding the guilt or innocence of another individual, rather than three magistrates deciding."

First published: Wednesday, March 16, 2005