Underage drinking campaign

Cracking down on those supplying alcohol to children and young people

Surrey Crimestoppers is continuing to work with its community safety partners to raise awareness of the illegal supply of alcohol to children and young people in Surrey Heath.

With support from the Safer Surrey Heath Partnership, the charity launched a three-month poster and postcard campaign in April 2008 targeting those who sell or supply alcohol to under-18s. The hard-hitting campaign, which will run until the end of June 2008, urges members of the community to contact Crimestoppers anonymously to report those who are supplying alcohol to underage drinkers. Postcards were sent to every household in the borough along with council tax forms and posters were displayed on council notice boards.

Jackie Swaine, Surrey Heath Borough Council Community Safety Officer, said: "We know that underage drinking is a concern for some of our residents. Through the Crimestoppers campaign and other on-going initiatives, we are encouraging the community to take more responsibility for the welfare of young people and help make Surrey Heath's neighbourhoods safer, cleaner and more pleasant for everyone."

An intelligence-led test purchasing exercise carried out by Surrey Police and Trading Standards in April 2008 showed that most licensees appeared to be complying with the law. Of five off-licences visited in Mytchett, Frimley, Camberley Town Centre and Heatherside, one sale was achieved. Of four pubs visited, three of which were in the town centre, again just one sale was made.

Surrey Heath Neighbourhood Sergeant Charlotte Dickson said: "Officers have been working hard with licensees in the town centre to tackle the issue of underage drinking, which also included a recent and successful ID confiscation trial. We have found that the majority of licensees are complying with the operating procedures they have in place, which is good news for whole community."

Crimestoppers will evaluate the response to its underage drinking campaign during July, with a view to implementing follow-up initiatives in the autumn.

* Anyone who buys or sell alcohol to under-18s could be fined up to £5,000. Young people under 18 who buy alcohol could be fined up to £1,000.