Police target under-age drinkers

Police say the scheme will be repeated during the summer

Under-age drinkers caught by police in East Yorkshire have been rounded up and taken with their parents to a lecture on alcohol safety at the town hall.

The new scheme by Humberside Police started in Hessle on Friday to coincide with the last day of the school year.

It involved police patrolling under-age drinking hotspots and bringing youngsters along with their parents to an alcohol education seminar.

The first patrols covered the Hessle and Haltemprice areas on Friday night.

Police said the scheme went well and would be repeated throughout the summer holiday.

Insp John Thirkettle, who was involved in the patrols, said: "Some of the parents were very grateful for us bringing to their attention that their 14 or 15-year-olds were out drinking alcohol without their knowledge.

"Last night was the first time we've done this and the weather was atrocious so we only brought in a small number of teenagers.

I am very positive this is a great approach to deal with the annual under-age drinking issue Pc Tracey Chaney

"But we'll definitely be repeating it during the summer."

Pc Tracey Chaney said: "Underage drinking can cause numerous health problems for those drinking excessive levels of alcohol and can also be a key factor in anti-social behaviour.

"I have set up this new initiative to reduce the number of calls we get in connection with youths causing annoyance and criminal damage incidents, all of which can have a negative impact on residents living in areas being affected.

"This is the first initiative of this nature to be piloted in the Hessle and Haltemprice area and I am very positive this is a great approach to deal with the annual under-age drinking issue."

The teenagers were taken to the town hall to meet their parents and a panel of experts who gave a seminar on the dangers of under-age drinking.

The panel included healthcare experts and an anti-social behaviour officer from the council.