‘CHALLENGE 21’ LAUNCH – PROOF OF ID NEEDED
August 31 2005
Officers from the six Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in the county will be present in King’s Walk, Gloucester, on September 1st between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm together with officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire Trading Standards to publicise the official launch of Challenge 21.
Challenge 21 will become an accepted policy throughout Gloucestershire from September 1st. Everyone who attempts to buy alcohol but appears to be under 21 will be asked for ID.
Acceptable means of ID are passports; photo driving licenses, Validate UK cards (photo signature cards which cost £7.50) and Connexions Cards which are free to 16-19 year olds in full time education or in a work based training programme.
However, young people can attend the stand in King’s Walk on 1st September and apply for either Validate UK Cards or Connexions Cards free of charge for this day. They will need to appear in person and bring 2 of the following: a birth certificate, a copy of the back page of passport with photo, a photo driving licence or their medical card. Members of the team will be able to take photos to support applications.
After September 1st, Validate UK cards can be obtained through the district council offices or Gloucestershire Trading Standards, Hillfield House, Denmark Road, Gloucester (01452 426201) and Connexions Cards application forms can be obtained through schools, colleges, work based trainers or from the website at www.connexionscard.com
Clubs and pubs will have Connexions Card readers that have the technology to read the smart chips embedded in the cards to confirm age.
Challenge 21 will make the asking of ID common practice. From September 1, police officers will be helping to enforce the campaign so it is advisable for all young people to obtain their ID now. As valuable documents like passports and driving licences are hard to replace, the Connexions Cards and Validate UK Cards are becoming more and more popular.
Paul Smith, Managing Director of Gloucester City Council and Chair of the Gloucestershire Community Safety Partnership said, “Challenge 21 is an excellent example of the six Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’s working together and speaking as one voice. Many young people travel across the district boundaries for their socialising and having a single campaign right across the county will have more impact.”
The scheme is being launched to clamp down on underage drinkers using the county’s pubs and clubs. It will also be used in off licences and supermarkets – in fact anywhere where alcohol can be purchased.