- Hertfordshire Trading Standards has become one of the first in the country authorised to issue fixed-penalty notices for disorder to anyone selling alcohol to children under 18. Trading standards officers gained the new powers under the Police Reform Act, having completed training and accreditation sessions last week. The move brings the service in line with police, who were already able to issue the £80 fines. Borehamwood and Elstree Times
- A telephone hotline has been set up for people to report shops, pubs and clubs that serve alcohol to under-age drinkers. Blackburn and Darwen's Council, the primary care trust and police have teamed up to launch the scheme. The number has been set up through neighbourhood renewal funding to try to clampdown on the anti-social behaviour of underage drinkers. The hotline aims to provide people with an easy and confidential way to report anyone serving alcohol to under-18s or anyone supplying alcohol illegally. This is Lancashire
- Police in Burnley are stamping down on damage and boozy behaviour in one of the town's most popular parks. Extra police and park ranger patrols are being carried out in Towneley Park following complaints about under-age drinking and damage to trees and golf courses. Police said over the past two weekends around 100 litres of alcohol had been seized from youths gathering in the park and 12 young people have received warnings through the Youth Referral Scheme. One 14-year-old girl was taken to hospital after drinking too much.
Community beat manager PC John Fisher, who patrols the Burnley Wood and Rosehill areas, has hit out at the youths, their parents, and the people supplying them with booze. He said: "Towneley is a beautiful park and we will not see it wrecked by drunken youths. Extra patrols are in operation, confiscating alcohol and where necessary taking action against the youths gathering in the park. " This is Lancashire
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