Judge's on-the-spot fine warning

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The use of on-the-spot fines should remain limited, as courts can be more effective at reducing re-offending, says England and Wales's top judge.

In a briefing, Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips said crimes such as assault needed to be looked at "in the round" by a judge or magistrate.

He said there was concern about a "slippery slope" on which more crimes were "diverted" away from courts.

The Home Office said it would not allow softer punishments for violent crime.

The Police Federation has claimed that police are overusing the fines to meet targets.

A few weeks ago it warned that some persistent offenders were avoiding picking up a criminal record for crimes like shoplifting, as details of fines did not have to be put on the police national computer.

Ease pressure

Fixed penalty notices, introduced in 2001, can be used for offences like speeding, graffiti, public disorder, noise nuisance and theft.

In 2005, more than 146,000 were issued.

The government will not approve any lessening of punishment for violent crime Home Office spokesman

Last September a leaked consultation paper suggested extending their use to cover offences like assault and threatening behaviour, to ease pressure on the courts.

But Home Secretary John Reid said at the time he would never allow a reduction in punishments for violent criminals.

In a statement on Thursday, a Home Office spokesman said: "No decision has yet been taken on whether to extend the scheme and any new offences would have to be approved by Parliament.

"The government will not approve any lessening of punishment for violent crime."

'Slippery slope'

In a briefing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday, Lord Phillips said: "There is concern that the diversion [of crimes from the courts to on-the-spot fines] might extend beyond its proper bounds.

"I think our concern is about the slippery slope."

He said it was "not desirable" to have criminals given on-the-spot fines in cases where the "offender needs to be examined by a court with a view to preventing reoffending."

Lord Phillips also echoed the sentiments of his predecessor, Lord Woolf, by saying he was not in favour of the mandatory life sentence for murder, which he said was misleading.