NEARLY two-thirds of on-the-spot fines handed out by police are not being paid by the due date.

Figures obtained by News Shopper under the Freedom of Information Act reveal only about one in three people pay their £50 or £80 penalty by the 21-day deadline.

The Met Police say Penalty Notices for Disorder reduce time and costs incurred dealing with an offender who would otherwise have to go to court.

A total of 1,331 penalty notices have been handed out in Lewisham in the past three years.

Only 527 were paid by the due date - a rate of just 39.6 per cent.

Between 2004 and 2005, 450 penalty notices were issued and 307 were not paid. The following year, 482 were given out and 273 were not paid.

From last year until May this year, the force issued 399 penalty notices and only 224 were paid.

Crimes covered by the penalty notices, which were introduced by the Home Office in 2001, include offences such as throwing fireworks or being drunk or disorderly.

Retail theft under £200, behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others and using threatening words or behaviour are also covered by the fines.

Councillor Simon Carter, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for community safety in Lewisham, says if the police issue fines, they need to follow them up.

He said: "The police need to make sure these fines are being enforced.

"The Liberal Democrats believe to tackle anti-social behaviour, a greater police presence is required on the streets.

"This will have a greater impact instead of issuing on-the-spot fines."

Fines can be issued to people who are over 16. They are either for £50 or £80, depending on the severity of the offence.

People given the penalty notices have 21 days to pay the penalty or to request a court hearing.

If this does not happen, the fine increases by one-and-a-half times the original amount.

Failure to pay may result in a higher fine imposed by a court or imprisonment.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Penalty notices for disorder provide swift and effective justice, allowing police to concentrate on more serious violent crime.

"We believe it is appropriate to deal with simple, straightforward cases in this prompt way.

"Convictions aren't the only way to ensure justice, and in many cases they are not the best solution.

He added: "Pre-court disposals, such as penalty notices, have been strongly supported by the police as a way of immediately punishing low-level offenders, reducing police bureaucracy and keeping officers out on the beat.

"Ensuring swift and effective justice for low-level offences also frees up court and probation capacity for more serious or disputed offences."

Lewisham police were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.