Officers are ‘delighted’ with the results from a test purchase operation that was carried out earlier this week in Leicester to coincide with the half-term break.
Undercover officers and a 14-year-old girl visited a total of 26 shops in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester on Monday night (February 21).
Out of the 26 shops visited only two, Bruce Street Off Licence and the Off Licence on Narborugh Road, sold alcohol to the youngster.
Officers visited shops on Narborough Road, Bruce Street, Hinckley Road and Fosse Road South.
The salesperson that made the sale will now be interviewed by police and could receive an £80 fine.
All off-licences targeted are part of the voluntary accreditation scheme ‘Best Of Green’, a scheme that encourages shops to trade responsibly.
PC Tejas Mavani, an officer from city centre licensing unit, said: “We are delighted with the results of this weeks test purchase operation. The Hinckley Road area has the highest concentration of off-licences in the city so it’s good to know that all, but one, are sticking to the rules.
“The Best of Green Scheme was introduced into the Hinckley Road area in September last year (2010). The aim of the scheme is to encourage off-licences to work closely with us and to keep younger residents in the area safe. This week’s result proves that the shops are taking their responsibilities as traders seriously.
“Underage drinking is always something that we aim to reduce as it can have a serious affect on a community. I hope that residents in the area will feel reassured by the work we are doing and the result from our latest test purchase operation.”
Police in the city are currently taking part in a Government funded project (TKAP**) which focuses on serious youth violence in Leicester among 13 to 24 year olds. Test purchase operations in the city are funded by the project.
Anyone with information about alcohol being sold to underage youngsters should contact Leicestershire Constabulary on (0116) 222 2222 or Crimestoppers which is free* and anonymous on 0800 555 111.
*Some mobile phone service providers may charge for this call.
** Tackling Knife and Serious Youth Crime Action Programme
Issued on 23/02/11 at 17:02
