Do You Know Where Your Children Are This Summer?

Officers will be involved in a number of dedicated patrols, known as Stay Safe Lite, which is designed  to protect vulnerable young people from alcohol, specifically those whose behaviour and whereabouts places them at risk of significant harm.

Where young people are found wandering the streets at night with alcohol, they will be returned to their home address and a referral will be made to a partner agency with the aim of educating both children and their guardians about the importance of personal safety and underage drinking.

Police have launched Stay Safe Lite following the success of a previous ongoing operation – Operation Stay Safe – which was led by several partner agencies in the town.

Officers will also be particularly active in enforcing Designated Public Places Order zones (DPPOs) which allows them to prevent people from openly drinking in public places.

Acting Chief Inspector Mick Brown said: “My appeal to parents is help us to keep your family safe, we are not there to spoil the fun, but just ask yourself, do you really know where your child is going when they walk out the door?

“There is a very clear responsibility placed on parents and guardians in respect of their children; too often officers are finding young people wandering around the streets heavily under the influence of alcohol, often in a state where they pose a significant risk to themselves. Most parents are really supportive of what we are trying to do, which is to keep people in this town safe.

“Our officers will be increasing patrols around local hot spots and shops selling alcohol to ensure that the message is received loud and clear.”