£80 fines for bank holiday bingers

Between ten and 15 of the fines are normally issued over a weekend but Brighton and Hove police expect that number will at least double over the bank holiday.

The aim is to nip street trouble in the bud and to keep as many police officers on front-line duties and not occupied by booking in prisoners in custody centres or filling in paperwork.

Chief Inspector Kerry Cox explained: "These fixed penalties paid immediately are to everyone's benefit.

"They mean offenders don't have to spend the night in cells and officers are not taken off the streets.

"More importantly, we hope they will stop problems escalating. Hopefully, the fines will sober-up troublemakers and the loss of £80 will make them think twice about misbehaving in future.

"This is the final weekend of the summer and we expect hundreds more people in the city.

"We will be out in large numbers and we will not tolerate alcohol-related disorder."

Extra patrols by regular officers, Police Community Support Officers and Specials have been ordered.

Chief Insp Cox said: "Thousands of Brighton and Hove residents as well as visitors to the city will be wanting a great bank holiday weekend and the one ingredient deemed by many as essential to having fun is alcohol.

"However, some people have a tendency to drink far too much and potentially cause themselves or others harm.

"We will be clamping down on irresponsible drinkers by issuing fixed penalty notices to those who are seen to be drunk and disorderly.

"We don't mind people enjoying themselves but we ask that they don't overdo it and end up having a night they'd rather not remember.

"By tackling alcohol related problems in this way before it escalates to something more problematic, we are showing that the police are serious about tackling the misuse of alcohol and want to stop the violence that it fuels."

"Waking up to hangovers, injury and possible prosecutions for antisocial behaviour leaves little cause for celebration."