More than 200 louts have been slapped with on-the-spot fines in Elmbridge, Epsom and Spelthorne over nine months.

According to Surrey Police's quarterly crime figures, 228 people received the new £80 fines for minor street disorder offences between April and December last year.

Surrey Police say the figures are good news, even if they contributed to half the 14 per cent rise in violent crimes counted in the division, which rose from 2,941 to 3,377 in the past year.

Also up was vehicle crime, rising by more than a fifth from 2,084 to 2,673 offences.

But the good news is sexual offences stayed relatively stable, rising from 137 to 138 this year while serious violent crime - everything from assault occasioning bodily harm to murder - was down by a quarter, from 83 offences to 62.

Vandalism rose by 8 per cent, reaching 4,071 criminal damage offences over the nine month period.

Theft rose by 11 per cent, from 5,628 to 6,292 offences.

House burglaries dropped marginally, from 729 to 715, and racially aggravated offences went from 199 to 204.

Drug offences dropped by almost a tenth, from 473 to 426.

Chief Constable Bob Quick said the figures were good but he was determined to tackle vehicle crime.

"The introduction of penalty notices for disorder this year has been embraced by officers, providing a new way for us to deal quickly and effectively with unacceptable behaviour," he said.

"Although issuing notices has had the effect of increasing the overall figures for violent crime, I'm sure members of the public will support police action in tackling antisocial behaviour which could otherwise blight our streets.

"We will work hard with our partners across the county to address the rise in vehicle crime, although I appeal to the public for their help in this matter.

"Most thefts from cars are crimes of opportunity with criminals targeting vehicles that have valuable items, such as sat nav kits, left on display.

"I urge people to take our advice in removing valuables and in particular for these kits to remove suction marks on windows."

Across the county, there was a surge in fraud crime, which Mr Quick said was the result of a series of large organized crime busts closing down credit card rings.