Police and Partners tackle Anti-Social Behaviour
14th July, 2010
On Friday 9th July Spennymoor and Ferryhill police ran the first Operation Stay Safe in this area. This is a multi agency operation which included Social Services, Anti Social Behaviour team, detached youth workers and uniformed wardens.
Anti social behaviour caused by local youths has been identified as a problem throughout Spennymoor and Ferryhill, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Youths can regularly be found in large groups in public places, in an intoxicated state. These youths make a lot of noise, discard rubbish and unwanted items and generally cause alarm, harassment and distress to local people. This anti social behaviour often causes local residents to feel intimidated. Many of the youths are often taken to hospital as a result of excessive alcohol consumption or they are escorted home to the safety of their parents or guardian by police or uniformed wardens. The youths are often so intoxicated that they are vomiting, unaware of their surroundings, unsteady on their feet and are at serious risk of harm.
The intention of this operation is to reduce the amount of incidents which occur due to intoxicated youths engaging in anti social behaviour, criminal damage and other linked offences. To use a multi agency approach to offer guidance and support to young people and their families if they are engaging in criminal activity or misusing substances such as drugs and alcohol.
On this occasion a quantity of alcohol was seized and a male was reported for buying alcohol for a person under 18 years of age.
Due to the success of this operation more Stay Safe events are planned throughout the year.
Durham Constabulary would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public that under Section 149(3)(a) of the Licensing Act 2003, a person commits an offence if they buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of an individual aged under 18.
