A CHESTER police chief has spoken out about new powers aimed at tackling the problem of underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Chester Outer Neighbourhood Policing Unit Sergeant Anton Sullivan has welcomed the recent government changes to make it easier for police to confiscate alcohol from youths and to move on groups of teenagers who are causing trouble.
As part of the announcements, police officers in Chester will now be able to seize alcohol from suspected under-age drinkers without having to prove they intended to consume it themselves.
They will also be able to issue a so-called “direction to leave” order to children as young as 10 who are causing trouble - until now only those over 16 could receive one.
Sgt Sullivan said that the measures will help to strengthen the unit’s targeted work throughout suburbs in the city.
He said: “I welcome the changes to the law and I believe that the direction to leave order will help to disperse groups who may be involved in anti-social behaviour, violence and alcohol related criminal activity.
“Before the changes we could only move one or two who were over the age of 16 out of a big group for example - which may be made up of the majority of 13 or 14-year-olds.
“This meant we couldn’t do much to disperse big groups, but through these new measures we can work much more effectively.”
The government have also introduced tougher penalties for shopkeepers who repeatedly sell alcohol to young people.
Shopkeepers who are caught selling alcohol to under-age drinkers twice in three months will immediately lose their licence - a toughening of the law from “three strikes” to “two strikes”.
Sgt Sullivan added: “We work very well and very closely with the off-licences in the area and we have full co-operation with the traders and officers from Trading Standards.
“The new rules will however help us to work with rogue off-licences more effectively if needed.”
Sgt Sullivan has praised the work of local police who have helped to drive down anti-social behaviour in areas such as Blacon, Westminster Park, Lache, Hoole, Handbridge and Upton by 8.1 per cent last year.
“On the whole we are very successful in tackling the issues of anti-social behaviour and alcohol related crime and that is evidence in the downturn in the number of seizures of alcohol on the streets in the past 12 months,” he said.
“The existing work that we are doing is working very well and these new changes only help to strengthen our position as a force to deal with this kind of crime effectively.”