Serious crimes such as assault and mugging will be punished by on-the-spot fines of up to £100, it has been reported.
The Times claims to have seen Home Office plans that will see the penalties handed out for offences including assault, threatening behaviour, obstructing or assaulting a police officer, possession of cannabis and drunkenness.
They are aimed at keeping offenders out of courts.
The Home Office is proposing a huge extension of fixed-penalty notices from early 2007.They would apply to nearly 30 offences.
The move could remove 250,000 cases from magistrates courts.The plans were drawn up after consulting key agencies, including the Association of Chief Police Officers.But they have yet to be endorsed by ministers.
Legislation could be put through in the autumn and a start date pencilled in for early next year.
But the 30,000-strong Magistrates' Association says the proposals make a mockery of the criminal justice system and downgrade the gravity of offences that should go before the courts.


Errr, I would think that a mugger, muggs people for money ? So how are they supposed to pay an on-the-spot fine ? Surely if the cops nab them "in the act" first thing is, they should return anything the mugger has grabbed ?