The minimum that can be charged in an on-the-spot fine has doubled from €25 to €50, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Tuesday morning.

The change was made through a legal notice which was enshrined into law on Tuesday.

“This is another step towards ensuring more order and more respect to our communities,” Prime Minister Robert Abela said as he announced the news on his Facebook page.

“When the law is enforced in an effective manner, everyone wins.  We will continue taking the necessary decisions so that the law is respected,” he added.

The law introducing on-the-spot fines came into force last month amid concerns of antisocial behaviour from tourists, especially in known touristic hotspots.

On-the-spot fines are applicable only to “non-habitual residents” – which is essentially anybody in the country who is not a Maltese citizen or holder of a residence document.

If the individual who is fined does not pay the charge immediately then police have the power to confiscate travel documents such as passports and ID cards.