Police hail purge on teenage boozing in York

Under the banner of Operation Stay Safe, North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council’s children’s services, youth services and York’s youth offending team joined forces as part of an operation to tackle booze-fuelled antisocial behaviour during the six- week school break.

The campaign saw high-visibility police patrols keeping a watchful eye on areas where they believe youths may be vulnerable to criminal activity or drug and alcohol use, and stepping in to protect them throughout the summer holidays.

Those thought to be at risk were taken to English Martyrs Church, in Holgate, where support systems to keep them free from crime were put in place.

Parents of children who are taken in by the patrols were also asked if they knew where their youngsters were and given suitable advice.

The campaign – which is now set be rolled out across the city during Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night – was devised because of a spell of antisocial behaviour and minor crimes during the summer months, some due to youths taking drink and drugs.

PC Kelly McTighe, of the Micklegate Safer Neighbourhood Team, described the scheme – which saw on average an extra 22 officers patrolling the streets every Friday and Saturday night – as a “massive success”.

Over the course of the campaign:

• 22 youngsters aged between 14 and 17, were brought to the church, 16 of whom admitted to consuming alcohol.

• 54 cans and bottles of strong lager, cider and wine seized.

• Three youngsters were found in possession of tobacco which was seized.

• Two young people were found in possession of items which would suggest the use of cannabis.

PC McTighe said: “It was a very successful operation and each young person interacted well with ourselves and the partner agencies. We had good feedback from the youngsters’ parents too.

“We will be looking at rolling the operation out city wide and especially on specific nights such as Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night.”