91Èȱ¬

Eye on Wales investigates controversy surrounding a new type of on-the-spot fine being used by police in Wales to deal with some offenders.

Penalty Notices of Disorder, or PNDs - also known as fixed penalties - have been increasingly used by police since 2004, and a search for tonight's programme under Freedom of Information revealed that more than 13,000 were issued by Welsh police last year for what police regard as low-level offences such as littering, theft, being drunk and disorderly, or criminal damage.

Perhaps not surprisingly, last year just over half of all recorded crimes across England and Wales were dealt with outside courts, either by the issuing of PNDs, cautions or warnings, and some fear this is undermining the openness of our criminal justice system.

And many of the penalty notices are being ignored: Justice Minister David Hanson admits on the programme that, even after courts get involved, a third are never paid - something that's currently under review by the government.

Instant justice, or in danger of bringing the criminal justice system into disrepute? Peter Johnson explores the arguments - that's at 6.30pm tonight on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Wales.