A 16-year-old girl was given a formal warning after admitting she purchased alcohol from an off- licence in Haslemere, using a counterfeit proof-of- age card. The warning was given to the girl last Friday and follows a crackdown by police across Waverley on alcohol-related violent and antisocial behaviour over the festive season. The incident was on Christmas Eve when the girl was stopped in the street by a local officer who was patrolling the Shottermill area on foot. The teenager was in possession of the alcohol and in the company of other children. The alcohol and card have since been destroyed. In an incident on the evening of December 29, an 18-year-old man was identified as having legally purchased alcohol from a Haslemere supermarket but later supplying it to people under the age of 18. The incident was discovered by a police patrol near The Herons Leisure Centre. Officers stopped a group of eight children and seized a significant quantity of bottled alcohol. In both cases, parents and guardians were informed. Police are also attempting to establish the identity of a middle-aged man who was seen by off-licence staff to purchase alcohol and then pass it to a group of young people when away from the shop. "The incidents demonstrate the success we have had over the festive holiday period in tackling issues of alcohol-related disorder in public and the abuse of alcohol by vulnerable young people," Waverley Inspector Matt Goodridge said. "Increased patrols by local officers have paid dividends and reinforced the message that we will not tolerate such activities. "It also re-emphasises the message that parents need to be aware of what their children are doing, where they are going and who they are with. "In all the cases above, the licensed premises concerned must be congratulated for their strong management and adherence to policies of challenging people they suspect to be under 18. "On all occasions, the staff members involved have acted responsibly, monitoring the activities of people in the vicinity of their stores and quickly informing the police of their suspicions." It is an offence for a person under the age of 18 to purchase alcohol from a licensed premises and for a person over the age of 18 to buy it on their behalf. The maximum penalty is a fine of £1,000. The crackdown on those committing anti-social and violent behaviour in Waverley and Guildford coincided with the division's participation in the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign. This included working with partner agencies such as Surrey Fire and Rescue and Trading Standards. They tackled alcohol-related disorder, as well as targeting those involved in the illegal and irresponsible selling and consumption of alcohol, including those who sell alcohol to under 18s, and bars and clubs which promote irresponsible and rowdy behaviour. The campaign made the most of a number of tactics, including visits to licensed premises, particularly those linked with incidents of alcohol- related disorder, using undercover officers, high- visibility patrols and the use of specialist resources such as evidence-gathering teams. A CCTV van was used to capture evidence of alcohol-related disorder and structured licensing visits in conjunction with Waverley Borough Council and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service were made, along with the crackdown on underage drinking backed up by the seizure of alcohol from youths.
