Summary
This report analyses trends in British police use of the penalty notice for disorder (PND), which is authorized under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 as a means of providing police with a quick and effective means of dealing with low level, nuisance behaviors. There was consensus among the forces that the use of PNDs has given them a way to deal with low-level offending in more appropriate ways. There was a lack of consistency among the forces in their evidence requirements for issuing and processing a PND. Use of PNDs can be increased for forces that do not currently issue PNDs to 16 and 17 year-olds or to adults for offenses of theft and criminal damage. Among its recommendations, the report suggests a national standard operating procedure for PND evidence requirements, processing, and minimum standards of investigation. Data on the use of PNDs nationwide show variation in their use according to the offenses addressed in a locality. There is evidence of a switch from cautions and prosecutions to the use of PNDs. PNDs represent 4 percent of the cases resolved by police.