Youths Stopped Over Safer Autumn Weekend

Almost 70 young people in Dover and Deal were stopped and spoken to by police officers and community support officers during the first weekend of the Safer Autumn campaign (Friday and Saturday 19 and 20 Oct).

On Friday night three youths with bottles of lager were stopped outside Sainsbury's in Deal and six youths with a crate of lager were stopped in the car park at Walmer Castle later that evening. All the alcohol was confiscated.

On Saturday night a number of youths were spoken to at River Recreation ground in Dover about their noise levels, but no alcohol was seen.

A 14-year-old girl was intoxicated in Lower Road, River. Police had to call her mother to come and take her home. A 15-year-old boy was stopped in Ladywell with 13 bottles of Stongbow Cider.

And a group of youths were dispersed from Connaught Park, Dover and a large quantity of alcohol was seized and poured away including vodka, alco-pops, Lambrini wine and Jack Daniels.

The Safer Autumn initiative has been launched to target anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder over half-term, Halloween and Bonfire night.

Extra officers are on the streets as analysis shows this is historically a period when anti-social behaviour goes up and they will be maintaining high visibility and will deal swiftly with offenders.

Officers are also enforcing the Firework Regulations that make it an offence for anyone under 18 to be in possession of a firework.

Chief Inspector Roy Cottam, Dover District Commander said: "These high visibility patrols will continue throughout the next few weeks, so I would urge parents to make sure they warn their children about the dangers and consequences of drinking alcohol."

"We are not being kill-joys, but as well as being bad for health, there is a strong link between underage drinking, criminality and anti-social behaviour and we want the people of Dover and Deal enjoy a safer autumn."