OFFENDERS who cause nuisance or disorder in York and North Yorkshire could soon find themselves landed with an on-the-spot fine.

The immediate fixed penalties will be introduced from Thursday, under the Penalty Notice for Disorder scheme.

North Yorkshire Police will be able to issue a notice to anyone aged 18 or over who they suspect to have committed one of a specific list of disorder offences.

Offences such as being drunk and disorderly, drunk on the highway, and drinking in a designated public place will attract a £40 fixed penalty.

Other offences, including wasting police time, making hoax 999 calls and causing harassment, alarm or distress under the Public Order Act, carry an £80 penalty.

The new measures do not preclude the use of existing methods, such as arrest and court appearances.

Inspector Richard Abbott, from the force's administration of justice department, said the new powers will be extremely useful to operational officers.

He said: "They provide a speedy and effective alternative means of dealing with low-level, antisocial and nuisance offending, without having to go through the lengthy process of a court hearing, saving time for both the police and the courts."

Payment of the fixed penalty will not result in a criminal conviction. It is anticipated that most offenders will pay the fixed penalty, but a recipient will be able to opt for a court hearing as an alternative.

Failure to either pay the penalty or elect a court hearing will result in a fine being registered by the courts at one-and-a-half times the rate of the original penalty.

Insp Abbott said: "The scheme has already been piloted by police forces in Essex, West Midlands and North Wales and by British Transport Police with great success.

"We have every reason to believe that it will be very effective in North Yorkshire.

"Not only will it reduce the amount of time officers spend on completing paperwork, it will increase the amount of time they can spend on the streets dealing with more serious issues."

Updated: 10:43 Tuesday, March 30, 2004