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From the Dover Mercury, 27 February,
2003.
Scheme deters young drinkers.
THE success of the Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes in combating under-age
drinking has been highlighted at the annual licensing sessions in south
and east Kent.
Police Superintendent Steve Harris told the licensing
committee that under-age-drinkers remained the bane of many licence
staff.
"If they are not attempting to buy alcohol on their own behalf,
they attempt to cajole bona-fide customers to buy alcoholic drinks for
them, thus putting those concerned in jeopardy of prosecution," he said.
"Licensees and shopkeepers who have joined the radio-linked Shopwatch
scheme have found the scheme a deterrent and gives them confidence that
they are not alone and can summon assistance of the police via CCTV
operators and each other.
"The same applied to the radio Pubwatch scheme
which first proved a success in Dover and has now been introduced in
Folkestone and Hythe."
Supt Harris warned, however, that checks on sales
were continuing. Kent Trading Standards Officers and their teams were
proving to be a very successful tool in the battle against the sale of
alcohol to under-age drinkers.
"Approximately 50 per cent of test
purchases made result in a prosecution," he said.
Talks have been taking
place with the new management of the former
Images and Snoops nightclub in Castle Street in advance of the opening
of the club as Lloyds No 1 in May. The talks were particularly concerned
with crime prevention measures.
Supt Harris said public houses in the
area appeared to be well run, with a few exceptions, and the licensing
unit had been working with local authorities, night time traders forums,
Dover Partnership Against Crime and licensees to reduce reported crime
of assault, criminal damage and public disorder.
In his reply, the
Channel courts licensing committee chairman, Ken London, paid tribute to
the work done by the licensing officers.
"The reports we have received,
while underlining problem areas, also indicate that those who step out
of line represent a very small percentage of the overall numbers
administered," said Mr London.
"Life would not be normal if we did not experience the odd bad apple.
"Our concern is as the number of premises which change hands after long
periods of stability with good and professional licensees only to go
into rapid decline often due to bad practices on the part of the new
licensees.
"There then follows a spate of transfers as the premises seek
to re-establish itself.
"Is it too much to expect that new licensees will
have done their homework before taking on a licence and will have seen
the reason for the past successes and good standing of the business.
"We
all know new owners are keen to put their identity on their new
business, but that identity should never include bad practise which does
no good to our area's good reputation."
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