Children face on-the-spot fines

[<bleeding_heart>]

LONDON (Reuters) - Children as young as 10 face on-the-spot fines for offences such as under-age drinking, under a new scheme aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour, the government says.

Seven police forces will participate in the pilot, which was announced on Monday. It will allow officers to fine 10-15 year-old children up to 40 pounds for under-age drinking, vandalism, misusing fireworks and harassment.

Police can already fine people over 16 for similar offences.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said she hoped the scheme would force parents, who will be liable for ensuring the fines are paid, to watch their children more carefully.

"Parents cannot be spectators and have to take responsibility for their children. They cannot stand by whilst their children cause damage and distress to law abiding citizens," Blears said.

If the fine is not paid, parents could see the penalty increased, be required to attend parenting classes or be sent to jail.

Source

[BurnSide]

Thank god.

This is BRILLIANT. Absolutely amazing. I can't wait for my province to follow suit. There's not a shadow of doubt that this will lower the amount of kids out looking to cause trouble, and reduce NEDs greatly.

[<bleeding_heart>]

Glad you agree . The way things are going Child Molesters who go near schools and playgrounds will be next, then people carrying a vest full of explosives. I just hope they can remeber their PIN numbers, otherwise the court proceedings will run up huge bills that will eventually be written off.

[Guest Lottie]

"Parents cannot be spectators and have to take responsibility for their children. They cannot stand by whilst their children cause damage and distress to law abiding citizens," Blears said.

Well said!

This is very good news indeed and about time.

[+joc]

If they really want to control them they need an 'on the spot' death sentence.

[Mad Manfred]

If they really want to control them they need an 'on the spot' death sentence.

425952[/snapback]

Thats a bit excessive.

Christmas carolers on the other hand...

[bathory]

this one gets the good old bathory rubber stamp of approval

[Fluffybunny]

Lock up those little monsters...

Then go after the parents for creating them in the first place...

[girty1600]

Lock up those little monsters...

Then go after the parents for creating them in the first place...

426073[/snapback]

Beautiful! Very well said! Lock them up, fine the crap out of them and go after their parents.

[Walken]

The best thing about this is overtime the damage would have paid all past offences too. Thats a long time though, but YAY!

[Horatio]

Does anyone know what they mean by vandilism? Hundreds of different things could be classed aas vandilism.

[Walken]

Exactly.

[BurnSide]

Then it would be all the things that are classed as vandalism, obviously. Breaking windows, graffiti, defacing property, etc etc

[Novo]

So what if I stoof in front of my house and spray painted it and got arrested? I see a lawsuit.. *cackles*

[BurnSide]

Your property is your own, obviously. If you smash your own windows that isn't vandalism. Vandalism is defacing and ruining OTHER peoples property.

[Guest Lottie]

So what if I stoof in front of my house and spray painted it and got arrested? I see a lawsuit.. *cackles*

426221[/snapback]

Read again.

Seven police forces will participate in the pilot, which was announced on Monday. It will allow officers to fine 10-15 year-old children up to 40 pounds for under-age drinking, vandalism, misusing fireworks and harassment.

Does anyone know what they mean by vandilism? Hundreds of different things could be classed aas vandilism.

Wilful or malicious destruction of private or public property.

[Elfstone810]

LOL! It's funny reading this post because you have, on the one side, people like Burnside and Lottie applauding it and, on the other, people who will remain nameless going, "uh, gosh. I'm gonna be in trouble now . . . " And, "how can I get around this one??"

[BurnSide]

Yeah, i noticed that too.

[Walken]

Lol, me three. Tis a funny forum.