11:15am Friday 9th May 2008
By Telegraph newsdesk
ALMOST 40 cans and bottles of lager and over four litres of Vodka have been seized as part of a crackdown on anti social behaviour and underage drinking in Blackburn.
Over the last four months, the neighbourhood policing team seized approximately 20 cans of premium lager and 12 cans of super strength lager along with six bottles of Stella Artois lager, four litres of Vodka and ten litres of fruit juice mixed with Vodka.
All were taken from young people in the Daisyfield Estate area of Blackburn.
Officers also seized a Huka smoking pipe, issued six youth referrals forms and arrested two youngsters for public order offences.
Community Beat Manager PC Emma Turner said: "Youngsters who congregate in large groups drinking alcohol are disrupting the quality of life for local people. The neighbourhood policing team carry out regular highly visible patrols in areas which have been identified by members of the community and I hope that this will act as a warning to troublemakers that underage drinking and anti social behaviour will not be tolerated.
"Regular confiscation of alcohol is just one of many tactics used by the police to make our communities safer and more pleasant places to live and work."
A Youth Referral is a form which is given to a child when he or she is stopped by the police. The child is told to give the form to his or her parents so the parents know that they have been stopped and spoken to by the police. This is then followed up with by letter home explaining the reason their child was stopped. The letter encourages parents to speak to their child about the incident. If the child receives a second referral form within six months police will usually visit the child at home with their parents. Police will offer assistance and advice at this stage. If the child receives a third referral, a multi agency meeting will be set up involving the child, the parents, the school and education welfare and any other interested agencies to find a way forward.
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