Police tocrackdown on antisocialbehaviour

They say they are after after receiving complaints from residents - and are reminding young people that it is an offence to drink if you are under the age of 18.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Daryl Lucas said: “Local police have been made aware of concerns in the community about a number of young people who gather at the Fort in the evenings and at weekends to drink.

“First of all I would like to remind the youths involved that drinking under the age of 18 is illegal and constitutes a criminal offence. Local council by-laws also forbid drinking out on the street or in any public place.

“If you add to this the potential for getting involved in other kinds of trouble like criminal damage, public disorder or assaults when drunk, the end result of your evening’s drinking could be a life-long criminal record and a hefty fine.

“We are keen to get the message out to the wider community that we are making this a priority issue for the next few months in an effort to prevent any further escalation. As well as additional patrols, we will be speaking with local licensees and other partners and we are urging parents to speak to their children about the dangers of alcohol.

“On top of the risks they are taking by breaking the law, it’s important that they know that alcohol can also leave them vulnerable and can put their personal safety at risk.

“I would urge anyone in the community who has any concern about underage drinking or any other issue to contact us on 0845 600 8000.”