If you've been caught dropping litter or driving without insurance then there's a good chance you'll be hearing from the Force's Central Ticket Office.

Based in Sheffield, the small band of eight CTO staff process all the tickets issued by the thousands of South Yorkshire Police officers and police community support officers, mainly for motoring and public disorder offences.

These include fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour, plus endorsable tickets - which also carry penalty points - for offences such as speeding, and non-endorsable tickets for the likes of not wearing a seatbelt.

People have at least 21 days to pay up, but can appeal via court. If so, then CTO staff prepare a file for the officer who issued the ticket for the proceedings.

Tickets are also issued under the Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme, essentially giving motorists found to have a fault on their vehicle a two-week deadline to make the necessary repairs, or face prosecution.

Staff can answer queries about tickets, but do not cancel them without advice from a senior officer or the Crown Prosecution Service.

Despite its title, the CTO isn't just about tickets. Its team of clerks and inputters, managed jointly by Lynne Harrison and Linda Kotke, handles several schemes on behalf of the Force.

For example, in some cases, motorists involved in minor bumps may be given the option of taking a short course to refresh their driving skills and increase awareness instead of being prosecuted. The CTO sends out letters, as part of the Driver Improvement Scheme, giving people that choice.

The CTO does not issue tickets when speeding drivers trigger roadside safety cameras. This is carried out by the South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership.

For further information about the CTO, you can call staff direct on: 0114 2961255.