Getting tough on underage drinking

More than 160 seizures of alcohol have been made in less than three months from youths aged between 12 and 16 on the streets of Bransholme and Sutton Park.

The seizures have been made by police and antisocial behaviour (ASB) officers as part of an initiative called Operation Salvidge, which seeks to crack down on both under-age drinking and youths causing annoyance.

ASB officers say children as young as 12 have been found “practically unconscious” on vodka.

Meanwhile, more than 170 warning letters have been sent to parents. ASB enforcement officer Kim Bowen said: “The parents need to be aware what their children are doing. There is concern for children’s safety if they’re drunk on the street.

“The youths, including many girls, tend to hang around in large groups and can be intimidating to residents - but many are out on the street because they have nowhere else to meet.”

Main target areas for Operation Salvidge have included the Grandale shopping centre, on Sutton Park, where groups of more than 50 youths have been known to gather, and Bransholme’s Roebank shopping arcade.

In one Friday night alone, around 70 cans of beer were seized, plus wine and spirits.

The operation, being funded by the North Carr Area Committee and the Home Office, has involved arrests and £80 fixed-penalty notices being issued, including to two adults, one a parent, for buying drink for the youngsters.

Insp Iain Dixon of the North Carr Policing Team said: “The message to adults is: do not supply alcohol to under-age drinkers. You risk prosecution and, more seriously, you could seriously damage a young person’s health. When asked, have the courage to say NO.” The council has now started a consultation exercise, asking young people in the area what facilities they would like in order to prevent them hanging around on street corners.