Published: Thursday, 13th November, 2008 10:57am

Two-pronged attack on under-age drinkers

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Laurel Park play equipment torched by drunken yobs in July

UNDER-AGE drinkers have been facing a dual crackdown with both their favourite drinking hotspots and the shops that illegally supply booze being targeted by police.

The police and Wokingham Borough Council have been focusing on parts of Earley known for under-age drinking, and giving advice to licensees to help them enforce the drinking age limit.

Borough community safety leader Cllr Rob Stanton said: "Drunken youths blight many residents' lives and the campaign has tackled the problem from all angles. Together with the police we have been educating shop owners and the young people but also gathering intelligence on where the problem occurs. We have also caught a number of young drinkers in the act and notified their parents of their behaviour."

Parents and guardians of under-age drinkers caught by police are sent a yellow letter and advice on discussing alcohol issues with their children. A second offence will trigger a red letter, which could mean a formal discussion of the problem at the police station.

Between June and September 14 young people were caught with alcohol around Wokingham borough and had yellow warning letters issued.

Neighbourhood policing teams have also been patrolling frequently in parks and public areas where young drinkers like to congregate, and have also helped to reduce anti-social behaviour in such areas.

It has had an especially beneficial effect in Earley in places like Laurel Park, and community support officer Marlisa Paice added: "We have seen a significant decrease in reports of anti-social behaviour this month, especially in relation to the use of mopeds. It seems the huge effort put in by the team to patrol regular hotspots has paid off and young people are not hanging around the streets as much."

To contact the neighbourhood policing team, call 0845 8 505 505 and ask to speak to the Earley officers.