Police in Norwich are to hand out on-the-spot fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour on weekend evenings in the run-up to the summer as part of a purge on night-time anti-social behaviour.

Police in Norwich are to hand out on-the-spot fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour on weekend evenings in the run-up to the summer as part of a purge on night-time anti-social behaviour.

Over the next few weekends officers are set to focus on disruptive and intimidating behaviour in the city centre.

Officers have been issuing fixed penalty notices for low-level disorder on the streets for some time now but are due to step up the campaign, increasing the number of notices handed out for offences including urinating in the street, being drunk and disorderly and public order offences.

Anyone committing more serious offences will be arrested and dealt with through the criminal justice system.

The new approach will see the fixed penalty notices used in conjunction with Section 27 warnings under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which means that after the fine is issued a warning will be given to the offender to move away from the scene or locality or face arrest.

The crackdown will be publicised with striking new Home Office posters that will be issued at pubs and clubs around the city, emphasising that people will be throwing away their money if they engage in disorderly behaviour.

PC Mark Shepherd of Norwich's licensing unit, said: “For a number of years now we have carried out a large amount of work to reduce alcohol-related disorder and violence in the city centre and we have been extremely successful.

“However, we can never be complacent and we are now looking to focus on the kinds of low-level disorder which cause intimidation and a general nuisance by putting the perpetrators out of pocket.

“Our message is clear - if you are drunk and disorderly and you cause problems you will be issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice for disorder on the spot and be warned to be on your way or be arrested.”

Meanwhile, Norfolk's zero-tolerance approach to illegal raves will continue this weekend as police look for a peaceful Bank Holiday.

Following the successful disruption of previous unlicensed music events, Norfolk police have again made arrangements with surrounding forces to share resources to disrupt or stop any such events.

The force is working particularly closely with officers in Suffolk to share information and provide additional police units to specifically target rave-goers or anyone suspected of involvement in the organisation of a rave across the two counties.

Members of the public are also being urged to report any activity which may lead them to believe a rave is being organised. Suspicious activity may include: trespassers on private land taking interest in a potential rave site, invasions onto land by people with vans which may be carrying sound equipment and a large gathering of vehicles in car parks or moving convoy of vehicles on roads.

Contact Norfolk police on 0845 4564567.

Laddette culture on the rise, see p14.