Government proposals could see police in England and Wales being given powers to arrest people for dropping litter. Under the new plans due to be published by the Home Office on Thursday, offences such as such as graffiti and dropping litter could in theory lead to arrest, but there would be strict guidelines to determine when such a move was appropriate.
At the moment, police can only arrest individuals for crimes attracting jail terms of five years or more, although there are dozens of exceptions to that rule.
Officials have described the proposals as a "tidying-up exercise" but civil liberty campaigners have expressed concerns that the increased powers could be used in an arbitrary manner.
Will the proposals help the fight against crime? Should the police be able to arrest people for minor offences? Do you agree that this is a "tidying-up exercise"?
This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
 | SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Clive, UK:  Should the police arrest people for minor offences?  |
The government is using the war as a pretext to deny the public their basic human rights and dignity. They started the war in the first place to be able to do this. And now there's question of extending the police powers? We already live in a police state, where the police can arrest and destroy people's lives under the guise of "anti-terrorism". I for one believe that those supporting this are either themselves members of the police force looking to abuse their authority or those in the ministry who are hired to make people believe that the public want this.
Anonymous, London, UK
I don't understand how arresting someone for littering or graffiti can possibly be construed as an invasion of their 'civil liberties' - since when do we have the right to deface the public environment? And if, supported by a warrant, during the course of searching a cafe where an alleged criminal stopped for lunch, the police turn up evidence of a crime, what's the problem with that? We should be grateful, not concerned!
Clive van Hilten, Chertsey, UK
All those pc, 'champagne socialists' living in their nice suburbs do not have to live with these thugs. What about the liberty of those who have to live with fear and intimidation of these criminals. The majority of civilised people want curbs on the thugs and dealers, this will not be restriction on the majorities human rights, only those who should have some of those rights removed due to their criminal and uncivilised activities.
John Karran, Merseyside, UK As someone who finds litter deeply offensive, and actually collects it in my local vicinity, I do not regard it as trivial. For those who childishly scream 'police state', they are usually the very type who considers yobbish behaviour acceptable, and frankly these people don't particularly deserve civil liberties, until they can behave like civilised citizens-if this sounds authoritarian I make no apology!
Patrick O'Connor, Bournemouth
God help the Magistrates Courts in coping with the additional suspects queuing up to be convicted for dropping litter.
David Knowles, Stoke, UK
Very good idea - it'll hugely improve the law and order statistics. On a similar note, I'm hoping to get on to a waiting list before Christmas, for a leg operation.
Steve, UK
| There is no respect, no discipline; political correctness has gone too far |
As usual we are dealing with the effect rather than the cause! There is no respect, no discipline; political correctness has gone too far as has the fact that no one wants to take responsibility for the actions of themselves or their children. This has led to spiralling crime, as highlighted by the constant reminders to 'lock or hide anything away that is valuable. Whilst I agree that there is a need to crack down on thuggish behaviour and give the country back to the law abiding. This could be achieved by taking a holistic approach with major effort being applied to: the legal system to remind them of their responsibilities to the victims and enforcement of sentences, enforce the current laws, put more Bobbies on the beat, regenerate the family unit within society and place responsibility for children where it belongs i.e. with that is with the parents! A multifaceted approach is required and soon otherwise our freedoms will be gone as will our society.
Bob, Glos, England You guys could have it much worse. Our Chief of Police in Toronto believes the police force should police themselves in complaints against them. And now, if that wasn't bad enough, he wants to be able to take DNA samples from people who are arrested. That's right, not people who have been convicted, but those that are arrested.
Anon, Toronto, Canada
| Zero tolerance has worked very well in many other places |
Zero tolerance has worked very well in many other places, New York being the most well known example but also in parts of Spain and Italy where crime in these areas has decreased sharply. Obviously the courts would need to be far tougher in their sentences for this to work properly.
Julian Lazarus, London England Let me tell you how it works in large American cities. The police are safer arresting normal citizens for minor things. It means they don't have to contend with the more dangerous criminal element (leaving the rest of us to deal with them). They feel like they are doing something - while at the same time, violent crime continues to escalate unabated.
Cheryl, Houston, USA
We don't seem to have the prison space, or the court resources to deal with the major offenders we have now. Weren't we just hearing a few months ago that first time burglars wouldn't be given custodial sentences? So what's the plan for all these minor offenders? Suspended sentences, or community service? Or are we going to have jails full of graffiti artists and litter bugs, while the robbers and drug dealers walk the streets. This is why so many people leave the UK each year. We need real sentences that fit the crime.
Luke Walter, St Paul, Minnesota USA (ex UK)
| The idea that our civil liberties are being overthrown by these new proposals is ludicrous |
It should be noted by the do-gooders here that the majority of people who commit crimes like littering and graffiti are also committing other more serious crimes. Zero tolerance worked exceptionally well in New York - the idea that our civil liberties are being overthrown by these new proposals is ludicrous.
Thomas Jones, Avon, UK I fail to see the how it is in the interest of the public to stop urban art. Will our town and cities be any safer if the walls are clean and graffiti free? Public money should not be spent on such a minor offences which should never have been one in the first place. Tackle crimes not expression, there is too little about these days anyway.
Chris, Hartlepool, UK
No, it does not work, just ask the Americans, their jails are full yet the crime does not stop. Education starts at home; teach your children what is right and wrong and let's stop blaming each other for our problems.
Pete, London
Do we want to live in a police state? It is easy to convince oneself that increased police powers will not be abused, however to err is to be human, and they will be abused by both police and politicians. Some of the measures discussed make general sense, but many only make sense in a very narrow context, whilst others are outrageous.
David Allen, Portsmouth, UK
| We gave the police extra powers to fight terrorism and we then find them using them to police an arms fair demonstration |
Frankly, I don't trust the police to use these extra powers sensibly notwithstanding a necessity test. We gave the police extra powers to fight terrorism and we then find them using them to police an arms fair demonstration. How do we know that they will not misuse these proposed powers?
Chris Taylor, Surrey, UK Make paperwork for hard-pressed bobbies. If the public only knew how much rubbish we have to deal with that should never be a Police matter. Minor neighbour disputes, car-parking nonsense, kids playing football in the street etc. All cops want to do is police properly but Blunkett is determined to have us curing everything but Third world debt! The man is a pest.
Bob, Edinburgh
Wake up people, we are on the road to a police state. The police can already stop and search you for nothing. Now they'll be able to arrest you. They can take your DNA and retain it forever without permission even if you're innocent. People no longer have the automatic right to a trial by jury. This government has brought in 600 new criminal offences. What year is it?
Nick, London UK
American cities are creating 'Bill of Rights' Defense Committees to protect our constitution from the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act. England has not been so quick to give up civil liberties, until now! Hopefully we will all remember our history, and keep our hard won liberties for the future.
Dae Miles, Fairbanks Alaska US
And just where are they going to detain all those arrested? Our police cells, prison cells and detention centres are already full. Foolishly not thought through by politicians before running off at the mouth. Again
Iain Steven, Bridge of Weir, UK
People who do graffiti and other anti social crimes inevitably move on to more serious anti social behaviour. The slap on the wrist they get now does nothing to deter them, this is a step in the right direction, I am sick of civil liberty campaigners and do-gooders who seem to do nothing but support criminals.
Vincent, England
Scared by Michael Howard's excellent and balanced speech on crime, Blunkett has yet again thrown out a half-baked plan to try and steal Howard's thunder. However, by comparing the reactions of the two policies on 'Have Your Say' it is obvious which one is more popular.
Leon Kennedy, York, Yorkshire
We don't need Powers we need Policemen. You can give them all the powers you want, but it seems meaningless if there are not enough bobbies on the beat to actually follow up these crimes.
Lawrence, UK
Having lived abroad and witnessed the antics of the average Brit, not only will most of the UK population end up with a criminal record, they will fully deserve it.
Nigel MacDonald, Camborne, UK
If people get away with minor offences, what's to stop them from thinking they can get away with major ones? Criminality is all about indiscipline, and it starts at the bottom.
Nigel MacDonald, Camborne, UK
Yet again this government wants to erode our civil liberties and give further powers to the police. I think it is time to remove Blunkett from his job as Home Secretary and give it to somebody who has a calmer, more measured approach.
Mark, Bristol, UK
The police appear to have problems arresting people for major offences never mind minor ones. Police presence on the streets is virtually nil, so how can this be enforced?
Rob, Peterborough
As a scout leader who has to paint out graffiti from a scout hall several times a week, can someone please tell me why this is regarded as a "trivial" matter. To anyone who is plagued by their property being defaced on a regular basis, it is anything but a trivial matter.
Leslie Button, Sutton, England
I agree that persistent offenders should be arrested especially for graffiti. London Underground spends millions every year battling what seems to be a lost cause. However, with these new powers, this vandalism will be kept to a minimum.
John O'Sullivan, Wilmington, Kent
| Keep the regulations the way they are now and hire more police officers |
David Blunkett won't be satisfied until we all have a microchip in the base of our brains alerting police when we have unkind thoughts. At that point, however, there still won't be enough police on patrol to take care of the sort of everyday crime which presently affects communities in the UK. This is a whole lot of 'zero tolerance' American-style policing designed to capitalise on people's fears. Keep the regulations the way they are now and hire more police officers.
R R, Scotland I don't think it matters whether or not it is a tidying-up exercise. What is important is that existing laws are enforced and that there are clear boundaries about what is right and wrong in society. Many do not see that some of these so-called 'minor offences' are in fact crimes and/or forms of anti-social behaviour. The police should be able to act as they see fit.
Art, UK
My only worry is that how the police would cope with serious crime, if their time is over-stretched by such a "tidying-up exercise".
Mentesnot Mengesha, London, UK
If this is the case then just about everybody will have a criminal record by 2006.
Matt, Lincs, England
The latest government proposals, coupled with the existing laws and anti-terrorist measures, make George Orwell's 1984 look like a gentle children's' story.
Derek Smith, Ayr, Scotland
The police cannot arrest everyone they witness for such minor infractions as littering. I see half a dozen offences a day and I am not even looking, so they will only arrest at their discretion which means you'd better not fall out with your local bobby.
David R, Plymouth, UK
| A waste of valuable police time and resources |
"Victimless" or social crimes such as graffiti and litter are undoubtedly a problem but surely there are more serious crimes the police should be concentrating on preventing/ solving. A waste of valuable police time and resources.
Charlie, Retford, Notts What is the point? I've not seen a policeman on the streets in ages.
Gary Davey, Colchester
I'm getting more and more uneasy about living in this country for the reasons voiced by the others. What is it with Mr Blunkett and the Home Office?
Jon, Winchester, Scotland
I really doubt that the police will actually bother arresting someone for littering. The paperwork that the arresting officer will have to do to justify his or her actions is deterrent enough.
Phil, Blackpool, UK
It's about time the police were given more powers of arrest, but only if it leads to a proper conviction backed by the courts. I feel this nation and others are too soft on criminals and let's get rid of the 'do-gooder's'. If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.
Brian Heaton, Wigan
| If we wish to tackle crime in this country we should tackle the causes of crime |
No - this is just another slide towards a police state. It should be remembered that laws make criminals. If we wish to tackle crime in this country we should tackle the causes of crime, like poverty, inequality and poor parenting. What we should not do is remove civil liberties to enhance the security of the state. That is the path to tyranny and the Orwellian state. If Blunkett is allowed to continue down this path we will all end up DNA profiled and "chipped" at birth.
Paul, UK What strikes me is that the police haven't asked for these powers, which implies they don't think they need them either. This is just Blunkett being authoritarian -yet again.
Alexis, Swansea
What is the point of making graffiti, litter dropping, disturbing the peace a "crime" if the PC on the beat is unable to arrest the perpetrator? Yet again, the law is proving itself to be an ass!
Jillian Matthews, Stanwell, UK
Days after Michael Howard's measured speech on crime, yet another knee-jerk response from the Home Secretary. When is the government to provide us with a clear and thought-through set of policies for tackling the wave of crime and anti-social behaviour in our society?
Gordon Stewart, London
Where will it stop? It's time this Government stopped producing new laws and enforced those we already have. There is no point in passing laws if they are not going to be enforced!
Clive, Woking
While I applaud strong measures to tackle crime, the past few years have seen a steady erosion of civil liberties by Mr Blunkett. New measures are often introduced when public feeling is strong in response to a particular event, and when people are not paying attention to long-term implications. If a single warrant will permit searches of any address associated with an individual, will this mean a full police raid on a cafe where he might have stopped for lunch?
Jamie, UK
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