Laws target noisy neighbours

Noisy neighbours will be issued with on-the-spot fines under laws being introduced today in London.

The capital's 33 councils will be able to intervene directly to help residents plagued by noise under new enhanced powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and public nuisances. At present 143,000 calls are made to council noise patrols each year.

Ticket touts - particularly those who resell Travelcards outside Tube stations or target major events such as Wimbledon - also face a clampdown under the new powers. They will be banned from buying as well as selling tickets for major events.

London Underground has introduced Oystercards to combat Travelcard touts and police will also be targeting them at concerts and sporting events.

Councils will be able to issue parking ticket-style fixed-penalty fines for a range of "low-level" offenders such as noisy neighbours and unlicensed street traders rather than having to resort to the courts. Instead of the delay and expense of mounting a prosecution, councils will be able to issue noisy neighbours with penalty tickets if they refuse to comply with "noise-abatement orders" served after earlier disturbances.

However individuals will still be able to contest the fines and ask for their case to be heard by magistrates.

If the measures prove effective, the legislation is likely to be rolled out across the rest of the country.

Under the London Local Authorities Act 2004, which receives Royal Assent today, councils will be able to:

Councils will be able to start using the new powers from July.

Nick Lester, transport and environment director of the Association of London Government, said: "It's part of a move to improve the quality of public spaces and reduce anti-social behaviour. People won't notice the difference immediately but they should do over the next year."