§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the on-the-spot fines pilot project in North Wales. [103398]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthNorth Wales is one of five police forces piloting penalty notices for disorder in four police force areas. The pilot in North Wales commenced on 2 September in its central division. Up to 5 January 100 penalty notices had been issued with 53 paid and only one request for a court hearing. 23 penalty notices were within the 21 day payment period with no recorded outcome. North Wales police have welcomed this new option for dealing with low-level disorderly offending and are now extending the pilot forcewide.