POWERS that allow police to fine troublemakers on the spot are being put to good use in Mid Cheshire.

A total of 29 badly behaved people were issued with penalty notices for disorder last month in the Congleton and Vale Royal division, with instant fines dished out for offences such as wasting police time and being drunk and disorderly.

Insp Brian Roberts, of the Community Action Team, said: 'Rowdy, drunken and intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated on our streets and these penalties allow us to give a short, sharp shock to the handful of people who display this behaviour.

'The message is clear - if you cause problems you'll have to pay and those who don't pay up are headed to court.

'Officers are reducing the amount of time involved with paperwork and court attendance because they can issue a fine on the spot. This system is quick, simple and effective and enables bobbies to spend more time on patrol dealing with more serious crime.'

The scheme was piloted in September 2002 and has been rolled out across the country. People given a penalty notice are registered on the police national computer.

Persistent troublemakers are not given a notice but are dealt with by the courts.

Insp Roberts said: 'The majority of people pay the fine. Once it's paid that's the end of the matter, an offender can't be convicted for the offence.'

The notices issued in Mid Cheshire were for wasting police time (two), being drunk and disorderly (21) and causing harassment, alarm or dis-tress (six).

Fines can be issued to anyone aged 16 or over.