In the Netherlands, the Public Prosecution Service has the authority to impose penalties for a number of common criminal offences. The Public Prosecution Service may not impose custodial (i.e. prison) sentences. Municipal authorities and special enforcement officers also have the authority to impose penalties of this kind. They can issue an administrative penalty for antisocial behaviour; for instance, they can fine someone for noise nuisance. They can also issue a ‘police penalty’ for so-called ‘P offences’, which are offences like speeding that used to be punished with on-the-spot fines.
The Public Prosecution Service may impose a range of penalties. Examples include:
- a fine;
- an alternative sanction (of up to 180 hours);
- a driving ban (of up to 6 months);
- payment of compensation to the victim;
- an anti-social behaviour or intervention order (such as football banning order or mandatory participation in a drug rehabilitation programme).
