Operation 'Snapper' now in full swing

SUPERMARKETS and owners of licenced premises in Foyle District will face 'robust action' if they are found to be selling alcohol to underage drinkers, PSNI Inspector Jon Burrows has warned.

According to Inspector Burrows, so far almost 80 items of alcohol were seized over two nights at the weekend in the City area, and reports of successful swoops to seize drink from teenagers are still being recorded.

"Operation Snapper has been launched in a bid to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour," the inspector said, adding: "Unfortunately, the good weather is linked to an increase in underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. As a result, officers in the north west took part in Operation Snapper, seizing over 75 items of alcohol, from beer to spirits, from young people over the weekend."

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Asked what, in his opinion, happened when young people drank, the Inspector said: "Alcohol and young people don't mix. Young people are more likely to commit crime or be victims of crime whenever they consume alcohol."

Mr Burrows said that over the summer neighbourhood police would be focused on the issue, taking alcohol off children and engaging them in diversionary activities away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The community wants to see effective and visible policing dealing with the issues that mean most to them," he said.

He went on to reveal that the youngest person to have alcohol taken away from them at the weekend was a 15-year-old and Operation Snapper had been rolled out in both Waterside and Cityside. Not only will the police be taking alcohol from young people, they will also be performing high-visibility patrols around off licences and supermarkets, making sure they are not selling alcohol to underage customers. Among the items seized at the weekend were four litres of vodka, accounting for four of the almost 80 items that have so far been recorded.

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"Over the last year we have seized 3,000 items of alcohol, and I am confident as a result of this we have prevented crime and prevented anti-social behaviour," he said.

"I would appeal to parents to know where their children are and I would also appeal to licenced premises to be responsible who they sell alcohol to and to check the identity of customers when selling alcohol. We will be stepping up our visibility patrols around licenced premises and supermarkets and we will be dealing robustly with any breaches," he said.

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