The police should seek to educate the people and not become ticket vending machines, the opposition spokesman for home affairs said today.

Dr Michael Falzon said a number of policemen were recently told by their superiors that they had to impose a number of fines under the Litter Act, failing which they would face disciplinary action.

This, Dr Falzon said, was unacceptable. Although there was need for greater cleanliness in the country, this should not come about by having policemen issuing a set number of fines.

As in health, prevention was better than cure, and education would achieve better results in this sector, he said.