Police crack down on underage drinking in public

Thames Valley Police will be writing to parents or carers if youths are caught in public places with alcohol

YOUNGSTERS persistently found in possession of alcohol in a public place will now face a three strikes punishment.

Thames Valley Police is changing the way it deals with persistent possession of alcohol in a public place under the Policing and Crime Act 2009.

Under the new scheme, if a police officer or Police Community Support Officer finds a person under the age of 18 with alcohol in a public place this will now be recorded.

For the first incident, this will be logged and a letter will be sent to the parents or carers and the Youth Offending Team will also be notified.

The offender will also be invited to attend a voluntary session at The Edge, the Young People's Drug and Alcohol Service for West Berkshire, which is based in Northbrook Street, Newbury.

If there is a second incident within a 12 month period of the first incident, this will also be recorded and a second letter will be sent to the parents or carers and the offender will be formally referred to The Edge.

If a third incident occurs within 12 months of the first incident, a partnership consultation will be held to look at appropriate actions.

Offenders will be dealt with through the Youth Offending Team.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police, Chris Kearney said: “Every area has a Youth Offending Team that deals with persistent offenders under 18.

“If within 12 months a youth has been caught with alcohol in a public place then that will be deemed as persistent offending and the Youth Offending Team will be brought in to help.

“The team ensures that the offenders are complying with any requirement that have been made via the courts or police, such as curfews. They build a rapport with the youngsters to try and turn their lives around.”

Peta Stoddart-Crompton, a spokeswoman for West Berkshire Council, which funds The Edge, said: "Any intervention measure that can help to keep young people safe is to be welcomed. The Edge already run a similar scheme for cannabis possession. This is showing good results and we hope that the same can be achieved for persistent possession of alcohol.

"This scheme will also provide much needed support to parents and carers who can become very anxious and distressed when their child encounters problems with alcohol."

For information about The Edge, visit its website at www.edgecrew.co.uk