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Under-age drinkers abuse police
Tuesday 25th August 2009, 3:00PM BST.
More than 30 booze-fuelled teenagers who were causing a disturbance in a Shropshire field had their alcohol confiscated by police, who were subjected to a torrent of abuse.
Police in Shrewsbury are now calling on parents to help tackle under-age drinking after officers confiscated a cache of alcohol from the youths, who were gathered in a field off Haycocks Way, near The Column, on Friday night.
About 50 bottles of lager and two-litre bottles of cider were seized and destroyed.
Community support officers went to investigate following several complaints about the youngsters who were causing a disturbance by shouting, swearing and drinking.
They were met by a barrage of abuse from some of the group while others ran off.
Constable Diane Valentine, the officer for Belle Vue, Sutton and Reabrook, today said many of the youngsters were clearly under-age.
She said: “Their ages ranged from 13 to 18.
“When spoken to by the CSOs, some of the youths ran off, some gave false details, others refused to give their names and some tried to hide the alcohol in the bushes.
“Some of the youths were obstructive or argumentative and a small minority were abusive. This behaviour is inexcusable and parents need to be aware of what is happening and take responsibility for their children.”
Constable Valentine said letters were being sent this week to parents of those youngsters whose names were obtained.
They point out that as part of the Shropshire Community Safety Partnership, the police are seeking to address issues of anti-social behaviour to improve the quality of life for everyone.
The letter also warns that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated, and that those who persist will face court action under the Crime and Disorder Act.
Friday’s incident happened between 8pm and 9pm in an area that is part of the Rea Valley Country Park.
Smashed bottles were strewn across the footpath and other public areas.
This month, a member of the public retrieved about 100 empty bottles from the area and brought them into Monkmoor police station.
By Russell Roberts
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I blame the parents, who encourage this behaviour by buying the alcohol for their children. And before parents claim innocence, I have seen this happen.
The police should have the power to issue on the spot fines without masses of paperwork for their abusive language, as well as the under age drinking.
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woody – not every parent gets the booze for them.. when i was under age my parents for one didnt know that i was drinking let alone get it for me.. there is a minority but its not everyone.. and i do agree with fines for behaviour and under age drinking.
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OMG youths swearing & shouating is a disturbance yea maybe the fact they had a bit of booze on them was a crime but mathmatically between 30 of them thats not a lot of drink & isnt even hard licqure. far as im concerned i no of kids causing a lot more troubble rather then sitting in a feild well away from disrupting normal peoples lives either give them alternatives e.g. free summer time leasure activitys or dont be so damm suprised that this is what they have resorted to
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Police should have dealt with this, the cso are not police and i am tired of the press saying the police dealt with it they did not cso attempted to deal with it. They should have all been arrested by the police and taken home and on the spot fines of £150 issued .I for one do not believe as some they are all of council estates i think we would be surprised where some are from
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Yes, Woody it’s always the parents to blame. Dear god, i’ve never bought alcohol for my daughter. I would be terribly naive to think she wasn’t drinking at 16. I was easily able to buy drink at the age of 14, i’m sure it’s still fairly easy for teenagers to do this.
One minute a report is saying we don’t give our children enough freedom, then everyone’s shouting at parents for dumping their kids and letting them run riot. We simply can’t win.
I’ve put everything into bringing my daughter up properly and i’m sure a lot of the parents of these children have done the same. Kids do stupid things all the time. it’s part of growing up.
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I agree with Woody but next time send in proper Police with a snatch squad and pick up the ring leaders. straight into court no waiting instant justice and straight into prison.
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The article says “This month, a member of the public retrieved about 100 empty bottles from the area and brought them into Monkmoor police station.”
Strange place to have a bottle recycling skip?
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“Constable Valentine said letters were being sent this week to parents of those youngsters whose names were obtained”
How stupid is that? They are punishing those who were honest and respected the law while those who ran off and gave false names got away with it.
Well that sends a clear message to the youth of today – ‘Honesty DOESN’T pay!!’
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“straight into court no waiting instant justice and straight into prison.”
What?! Prison for children who get caught with a bit of booze?! I hope you haven’t got kids of your own if that’s your idea of a reasonable and proportionate punishment!
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Give them six months’ hard labour in a prison camp – the problem would disappear OVERNIGHT. Those who were locked up would never commit the offense again, and those lucky enough NOT to be locked up, would see that their ‘friends’ had been put away for six months in a concentration camp, and would also never do it again.
Result: an infinitely better society for the 99.9% of us who DON’T go around ruining other people’s lives.
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Is it only me that is wondering about the standard of literacy after reading one of the comments above ?
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Fine the parents.
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Lucy, how can I expalin, this, they were evidence of a crime. Do at least TRY to keep up…
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I don’t see how under age drinkers are causing a problem in a field far from houses. it’s just people who cant let teenagers have some fun. And it isnt the parents fault, and putting teenagers in prison is a bit over the top.
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I’m with you John. I think he may have been sitting in a field drinking cider bought for him by his parents instead of attending school.
Lucy – I am starting to worry about you. Maybe we should take your comment to the next logical step and suggest that crime does pay. Hopefully the parents receiving letters might try and do something about their children being drunk and disorderly. While hope is not a strategy, frequently it is all we have until we give up completely. Not an attractive proposition.
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Matt: ‘evidence of crime’? Oh dear, I knew this sort of comment would appear when they started repeating Heatbeat on TV in the afternoons.
Let me just check what was on TV at the time you posted. ITV Wednesday 4pm? hmmm?
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Smellie: Get worried now! Because in fact crime does pay. Just add up the crimes reported and then the criminal convictions for the year.
For every Ronnie Kray there is a Ronnie Biggs.
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hang them all the little so and so’s
conservatives would get tough on crime and cut your taxes, young people would not get alchohol or they would be locked up and we would cut taxes for small business like shops and stop gordon brown robbing me of cash every time i want a beer
down with labour, long live maggie, god save the Queen
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