Fines, not court, for small crimes

INDIVIDUALS who commit minor offences such as smoking cannabis or petty thefts could incur an on-the-spot police fine instead of being taken to court, in a new measure aimed at freeing up the French judicial system.

The introduction of a settlements system - similar to that used by customs officers - was introduced quietly by the French government last week, Le Monde reports, and there is still uncertainty about which offences are covered.

Initial reports suggested that the fines would apply to some driving offences such as being caught without a valid licence, but this has now been denied by France's justice ministry.

The offences that are covered are those that would typically attract a jail sentence of less than 12 months, such as cannabis consumption or thefts with a value of under €300.

Its aim is to stop small crimes blocking up the court system. Defendants are often not present at their hearing and fines imposed by a court are often not paid.

Individuals who are hit with a new on-the-spot police fine do not receive a criminal record. Le Monde says the decree was published quietly because of fears that it would reignite the debate about the decriminalisation of cannabis use.

Magistrates say they have not been formally told of the new measure - and learnt about the ministerial decree through media reports. The Socialist MP who led a 2014 committee discussing such changes says he was also not told.