§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what external advice he has received concerning the compatibility of on-the-spot fines imposed by police with the European Convention on Human Rights; [129240]
(2) what consultations he has carried out regarding the imposition of on-the-spot fines by the police; and if he will list the bodies he has consulted. [129242]
596W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAs I made clear in my reply to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald, (Miss Widdecombe) on 10 July 2000,Official Report, columns 432–33W, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed a number of ideas for tackling disorderly and anti-social behaviour at his meeting with chief officers of police on 3 July. These included the possibility of on-the-spot fines or fixed penalties. The purpose of the meeting was to open up discussion and to seek the views of chief officers on the options which should be further considered rather than to present ready-made solutions.
The chief officers present broadly welcomed the idea of extending the fixed penalty system to a wider range of offences and I have asked my officials and the Association of Chief Police Officers to consider this option, and others, in the coming weeks.
Any new measures would, of course, have to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.