Booze shops in sting operation (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Booze shops in sting operation

8:50am Wednesday 28th May 2008 in Swindon

AN OFF LICENCE has sold booze to a 14-year-old girl during a sting operation.

Trading Standards Officers along with police sent the teenager into 11 premises suspected of selling alcohol to underage children in Swindon on Tuesday.

They said the fact that only one business failed the spot test showed that messages that shops must not sell drink to underage children were finally getting through.

A female assistant at a North Swindon retailer received an £80 fixed penalty notice after selling alcopops to the girl on Tuesday.

After the offence the worker was interviewed and given a warning not to peddle drink to youngsters.

Upper Stratton community beat manager PC Kirsty Wilson said: "We want to get to the root of the problem. We appreciate that when children have alcohol in their system it causes anti-social behaviour.

"I think the spot checks are a positive step for us to take - especially during half term.

"It also sends out a message to parents and children that we are cutting down on it."

She also warned that adults who buy booze for children could be fined.

The businesses chosen for the operation were targeted because they had sold drink to children in the past, or complaints had been received about them.

Phil Thomas, head of the Swindon Council department that includes trading standards, said there has been a major drop in the number of businesses caught selling drink since 2003.

"When we started these checks there was a 60 to 70 per cent failure rate," he said.

"We have managed to reduce this figure to less than 10 per cent.

"There was a reason to target these premises. It shows the message is going out and people are being more vigilant on who they sell alcohol to."

PCSO Mandie Coles, who delivers drug and alcohol awareness sessions at schools, also took part in the sting.

She said: "I think that it is important that this type of operation is done regularly, not just at half term.

"We need the right message to get out to children so they understand the dangers they are putting themselves in by drinking."

The Vale of White Horse District Council and Thames Valley Police have released details of how its officers caught five pubs and shops selling alcohol to those aged under 18 on Friday.

The members of staff caught selling the booze received an £80 fixed penalty notice.