PEOPLE who commit minor crimes are to be hit hard in the pocket as part of a pioneering new scheme introduced across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

The Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) initiative has been introduced to tackle a range of low-level offences and anti-social behaviour.

It will see low-level crimes, like wasting police time, being drunk and disorderly or buying alcohol for under 18s, punished with fixed penalty fines - like a speeding or parking ticket.

The scheme, which started yesterday, has already been piloted in five other forces across the country, but Pennine Division is the first policing area in the Lancashire Constabulary, and the north of the country, to trial it.

The new powers will be rolled out across the force later this year.

Penalties will either be £40 or £80 depending on the seriousness of the offence and tickets can be handed out on the street or in the custody area of police stations after arrest.

Police hope that the scheme will reduce low-level offences as well as freeing up police officers' time by reducing bureaucracy and easing the burden on courts.

Inspector John Clucas said: "This is about dealing swiftly with low-level and anti-social behaviour offences.

"By dealing with minor offences in this way we believe officers will save around two hours of administration for each.

"That could mean a saving of many thousands of pounds each year.

"Unless the individual contests the Penalty Notice for Disorder, this is also expected to have a significant impact on the workload of the courts.

"In addition, an individual who is given a PND will benefit because it is an alternative to a court appearance which could result in a criminal conviction."

He dismissed fears that the scheme was just another money-making scheme for the police: "Unlike other forms of fixed penalty ticket, the police do not receive any of the money that is paid by offenders as it goes straight to the Exchequer. "

PNDs, which can only be issued to over 18s, will have to be paid in full within 21 days, or the fine will go up by 50 per cent.

Any outstanding money will be pursued by the courts as an unpaid fine.

Offences included in the scheme with a fine of £80 are:

Wasting police time; persistent use of a telephone for causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; giving a false alarm to the fire brigade and causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Offences which carry a fine of £40 are:

Being drunk and disorderly; trespass on a railway; throwing stones at a train; being drunk and incapable; buying alcohol for an under 18 for consumption in a bar; throwing fireworks; drinking in a designated public area.

The new powers were introduced in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and were piloted last year in Essex, Croydon, West Midlands, North Wales and by the British Transport Police.

The Home Office is now looking at running a pilot project to see how a similar scheme could cut juvenile nuisance.