Information on Loughborough

Summer Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign launches on the North

Posted on 10/07/2008

All five police stations across the North Area are launching a summer Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign (AMEC) to combat any increase in problems associated with underage drinking during the school holidays. 

Extra high visibility patrols will be running in Loughborough, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Melton and Rutland.  Hot spot areas have been identified through local crime analysis and officers will be patrolling those areas, talking to young people and confiscating alcohol from them if necessary.  They'll be using hand held breathalysers called AlcoBlows to detect the presence of alcohol in bottles.  Any young people found drinking alcohol will have their details taken and a letter will be sent home to their parent or guardian.

The campaign will run for 6 weeks from Saturday 12 July to Saturday 30 August.  During their patrols, officers will also be visiting off licenses in the area to chat to staff and remind them of the legal responsibilities around the sale of alcohol.

The police across the North are also working in partnership with local authorities across the area to encourage young people to enrol in organised summer activities.

Letters were sent to the parents of all primary and secondary school pupils across the North Area before the end of term asking them to think about their behaviour and the effect it might have on others while they are off school.

Alcohol Designation Zones, where it is an offence to drink in the street are in place in Loughborough, Ashby, Oakham and Uppingham and they will be rigidly enforced too.

Inspector Chris Brown from North West Leicestershire Local Policing Unit said; "We would urge parents to help us by making sure they know where there children are what they are doing.  We would also ask adults not to buy alcohol for young people because underage drinking not only creates problems around criminal damage, vandalism, graffiti and litter it also leaves the young people themselves vulnerable."

Test purchase operations will also be running across the five police areas at both on and off licenses.

Inspector Tim McCabe, from the North Area Community Safety Bureau said; "We want young people to have a good time and enjoy themselves but at the same time making sure their behaviour doesn't upset local residents.  Officers will be talking to young people across the summer to find out what they are doing and what activities they would like to get involved in.  By working with parents, schools, local Community Safety Partnerships, licensees and the young people themselves I hope we can ensure that everyone has a great summer."

To find out what is going on in your area log on to;

www.charnwood.gov.uk/leisure/holidayprogrammes.html

http://www.activities4u.org/

www.nwleics.gov.uk/whatson

www.melton.gov.uk/dotGov/binary.do?type=www&hreflink=http://www.thejitty.com

www.rutland.gov.uk/summer

Issued on 10/07/08 at 10:48