To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what authority police forces have to issue penalty notices for disorder to persons under 16 years of age. (203258)

The following legislation provides authority to police forces to issue penalty notices for disorder (PND) to persons under 16 years of age. Sections 1 to 11 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 introduced PNDs. Section 87(2) Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 extended PNDs to 16 to 17-year-olds. Section 87(3) provided an order making power to extend the age range to no lower than 10 years of age. That power was exercised by statutory instrument 2004 No. 3166.