On-the-spot fines hit 1,600 in two months

Police issued 1,600 on-the-spot fines in two months, Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield announced on Friday.

In a Facebook post, Bedingfield described the introduction of on-the-spot fines as a step forward in maintaining law and order on the streets.

Police and LESA officials issued the fines to non-residents in an effort to deter those who abuse the country’s hospitality, Bedingfield said.

First introduced last July, the measure aimed to close a long-standing loophole that allowed fines issued to non-residents to go unpaid.

By 17 September, 1,400 fines had been issued to non-residents over offences linked to disorder in Maltese neighbourhoods and streets.