Statistics
Penalty notices for disorder statistics 2004
This report summarises the numbers of Penalty Notice Disorder's issued and their related outcomes for 2004. Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) or 'on the spot penalties' were introduced by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 as part of the government's strategy to tackle low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending.
Title: Penalty notices for disorder statistics 2004 England and Wales
Authors: Philippa Goffe, Nisha de Silva, Tesleem Olowe, Adrian Smith, Graham Wilkins, Paul Worthington
Series: Home Office Online Report 35/05
Date of published: July 2005
Number of pages: 8
Availability: Download full report 
PDF 142Kb
The legislation allows police to issue penalty notices to offenders for a range of minor disorder offences such as 'causing harassment, alarm or distress' and 'disorderly behaviour while drunk' occurring often late at night in town centres and associated with the night time economy.
Key points
63,639 Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) were issued by police forces in England and Wales in 2004.
The highest volume offences were 'causing harassment, alarm or distress' (28,790 PNDs issued) and 'drunk and disorderly' (26,609 issued). These two offences accounted for 87% of PNDs issued.
94% of PNDs were issued to adults and the remaining 6% to juveniles (16yrs –17yrs).
85% of PNDs were issued to males and 15% to females.
38% of PNDs issued were paid in full within the 21-day payment period. A further 14% were paid in full after this period, giving a total of 52% of notices paid in full without any court action; the payment rate was 55% for juveniles (16yrs – 17yrs) and 52% for adults.
Fines were registered for 44% of PNDs issued. This figure was 39% for juveniles (16yrs – 17yrs) and 45% for adults.
The full report contains tables that cover PNDs issued by month, offence, and outcome by police force area. The tables have been split by age to show juveniles and adults separately, as well as the total number of notices issued.
Offences for which PNDs issued in 2004
Those attracting an £80 penalty:
Wasting police time or giving false report
Using public telecommunications system for sending false messages
Knowingly giving a false alarm to a fire brigade
Causing harassment, alarm or distress
Throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare
Drunk & disorderly
Selling alcohol to person under 18
Purchasing alcohol for person under 18 in licensed premises
Purchasing alcohol for person under 18 for consumption in a bar in licensed premises
Delivering alcohol to person under 18 or allowing such delivery
Destroying/damaging property (under £500)
Theft (retail under £200)
Breach of fireworks curfew
Possessing Category 4 firework
Possessing adult firework by person under 18
Those attracting a £40 penalty (£50 from 1 November 2004)
Trespassing on a railway
Throwing stones etc. at trains or other things on railways
Being drunk in a highway, other public place or licensed premises
Consuming alcohol in designated public place
Depositing and leaving litter
Consuming alcohol by person under 18 in licensed premises
Allowing consumption of alcohol by person under 18 in licensed premises
Download: Online Report 35/05 - Penalty notices for disorder statistics 2004 England and Wales PDF 142Kb
Last update: Wednesday, July 23, 2008