Underage drinkers targeted by police (From Barry And District News)

Underage drinkers targeted by police

OVER the last six weeks more than 253 youths were stopped and searched by Vale of Glamoran police as part of a crackdown on young troublemakers and anti-social behaviour.

Operation Dubai resulted in 44 Anti-Social Behaviour Order referrals being issued, nine arrests, and 117 intelligence reports being submitted.

Sixteen children also had letters sent to their parents, with three young people being taken home by officers and spoken to in front of their parents.

Police officers confiscated and disposed of more than 273 bottles of alcohol including lager, wine, cider, vodka and other spirits.

Officers targeted Barry, Llantwit Major, Dinas Powys and Penarth with uniformed and plain-clothes patrols.

Superintendent Josh Jones, Divisional Commander in the Vale, said: "We are not out to demonise young people.

"However a small minority of young people, often fuelled by drink, act with total disregard for the rest of the community.

"We won't tolerate this and hope that by making arrests, taking children home or writing to parents that the message will get through."

Acting Sergeant Charlotte Hobrough, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "We would ask parents to ensure they know where their children are and what they get up to on a Friday and Saturday evening.

"For example, we found young people in Dinas Powys telling their parents they were staying at each other's houses - while actually camping in the fields of the community centre and getting drunk."

The police are also working with the Vale Youth Service and voluntary sector to address the issue.

The Youth Service has carried out surveys of young people and the results will be published soon.