Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police officers are given (a) official targets, (b) unofficial targets and (c) recommendations for the number of fixed penalty notices they should issue.

The Home Office does not give police officers or police forces official or unofficial targets, or recommendations for the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) they should issue.

FPNs can be an efficient means for the police to deal with low level offences including motoring or anti-social behaviour offences, whilst reducing the burden on the courts and allowing police resources to focus on more serious crimes.