SHOPLIFTERS and town centre trouble-makers now face instant fines after police launched a ground-breaking initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime on the Fylde.

The scheme aims to cut down time usually spent cautioning or charging an offender by giving officers the power to impose an on-the-spot Penalty Notice for Disorder to those over 16.

The new-style notices which can carry a penalty of £40, £50, £80 and up to £500, now covers a range of offences from retail theft to criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.

The move also means that police in Blackpool will become the first members of any force in the country to have the ability to issue a notice inside a shop to those admitting to stealing.

Other offences expected to be added to the list later this month are throwing fireworks and possession of certain types of fireworks.

But for now it is hoped the scheme will see a dramatic reduction in police paperwork and time spent in court.

Inspector John Clucas of Lancashire police, said: "From today the police will be able to issue PNDs from custody offices for shoplifting and minor criminal damage offences.

"In addition, in Blackpool we will be able to issue PNDs from a store security office without having to bring an offender into custody.

"The views of the victim will be taken into consideration and we are now talking to town centre stores elsewhere in the county to advise them of the benefits of dealing with shoplifters by way of PND.

"This will result in far less paperwork for officers and will benefit the offender who will not have to appear in court.

"An £80 fine is likely to be in line with what most offenders would have been ordered to pay had they appeared in court."

Lancashire was one of the first forces to begin issuing the notices and has been leading the way since their UK introduction in April.

Almost 14 per cent of the 17,290 PNDs issued in England and Wales have been handed out in the county.