§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Home Office research findings summarising the main findings of the interim evaluation of pilots for penalty notices for disorder, which ran for 12 months from August and September 2002 to 2003, have been published today. The findings show that police officers have welcomed the scheme and are making good use of penalty notices for disorder. In particular the pilots showed that the police find penalty notices for disorder a quick and effective tool for tackling the low-level, drink-related nuisance offending which occurs late at night in city centres.2WS Using a penalty notice for disorder saves police time and there has been a demonstrable switch from cautions and prosecutions in the pilot areas.
The issues raised by police officers about repeat offenders, flagging on PNC and taking of fingerprints and DNA have already been addressed. A programme is being developed which will identify repeat offenders on the computer database. A facility now exists to record penalty notices on PNC and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 contains powers for the police to take DNA and fingerprints on arrest for recordable offences. These powers will be introduced on 5 April.
Copies of the research findings have been placed in the Library.