GLOUCESTER POLICE USE INNOVATIVE NEW TOOL IN ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR CRACKDOWN
August 09 2007
Gloucester police are to use an innovative new tool as they work to ensure the City is an enjoyable place for residents and visitors during the summer.
Alcohol testing strips, provided by the Gloucester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, are being issued to police officers and police community support officers throughout Gloucester to help them crack down on anti-social behaviour during the holiday period.
They will use them when confronted by youths they suspect to be in possession of alcohol but who claim they only have soft drinks.
They will dip one of the sterile and individually packaged strips into the suspect drink. A change in colour is an immediate indication that alcohol is present.
The police officer or PCSO can then confiscate the drink from the youth. Inquiries will also be made to establish how they obtained it. Their parents may be informed and, where there is evidence of anti-social behaviour, a warning notice may be issued to the young person.
If the strips show no alcohol is present, the drink can be returned and safely consumed as it will not be contaminated.
Chief Inspector Roger Clayton who oversees policing in Gloucester said: "Our young residents know that if they walk down the street with a can or bottle labelled as an alcoholic drink they are likely to have it confiscated, so some will try transferring it to innocent looking packaging. This is where these sterile strips come in as they will be able to prove beyond doubt if alcohol is present in a drink.
"Alcohol-consumption by young people is linked to disorderly behaviour.
This problem invariably increases during the summer holiday period with young people gathering in the park areas of the city. Last year we experienced problems on the day that the GCSE results came out. Celebrations started in one local park at lunchtime and continued until dark when drunken youths had to be dispersed.
"Such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. These strips should prove an effective tool in frontline officers’ armoury against antisocial behaviour and help us as we work to ensure the City is an enjoyable place for residents and visitors to be this summer."
The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’s Pat Dabbs said: "It is a disturbing fact that more young people are consuming alcohol at an early age. The CDRP has promoted sensible drinking campaigns, Challenge 21 proof of age initiatives and the responsible retailing of alcohol. However, it is recognized that some under-age drinkers will persuade their older friends to purchase alcohol on their behalf. It is hoped that these alcohol testing strips will help to deter alcohol consumption and the resulting disorderly behaviour among under-18-year-olds."
Additional high-visibility patrols will also be run in the City to deter and detect summer holiday crime and anti-social behaviour.
In addition, test-purchase operations will continue to run in the Division during the period to uncover the stores selling alcohol to youngsters.
Managers and staff at stores where under-18s are discovered to have bought alcohol face heavy penalties:
The first time they are caught, the member of staff who carried out the transaction receives an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice and the licensee will be given advice and a verbal warning.
On the second occasion, the seller will get an £80 FPN and the licensee will receive a written warning.
If it happens a third time, the licensee will be prosecuted and, whatever the outcome, their licence will be reviewed by licensing officers, meaning its conditions are liable to be tightened considerably.
A licensee appearing in the magistrates' court faces a fine of up to £5,000 and the loss of their personal and premises licence.
The fourth time, the licensee will be taken to court and, whatever the outcome, police will apply to have their licence revoked.
If police discover an under-18 to be in possession of alcohol they will seize it and dispose of it there and then or retain it as evidence. Those under age who buy alcohol face a £50 fine.
Proxy-purchasers face an £80 penalty. A recent survey showed almost a third of adults nationally had been asked to buy alcohol for a minor. It also found that one in four adults who admitted doing so didn't realise this was an offence.
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