Underage drinkers face a crackdown
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 1:35PM GMT.
Dozens of underage clubbers are using fake ID and friends’ documents to gain access to Shrewsbury’s pubs and clubs, police warned today.
And the problem has become so widespread that more than 120 warnings have been handed out to culprits in just six months.
Police today warned those who lend their passports and driving licences – as well as those who use them – that if they repeatedly offend they could be charged with fraud by false representation, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
Constable David Walton said officers were clamping down on underage drinking with recent operations resulting in large quantities of alcohol being seized.
Measures are also now in place to prevent under-age drinking in licensed premises.
Constable Walton said: “Persons under age often use fake ID or the driving licence or passport of a sibling or friend in an attempt to unlawfully obtain alcohol in licensed premises.
“Persons found to be doing so have received written warnings and those who come to notice on subsequent occasions are being processed for fraud.
“It is not only the person trying to enter the licensed premises who has acted unlawfully but also the person who has allowed their documentation to be used by another.
“In approximately six months over 120 warnings have been administered by the police for ID fraud.”
Constable Walton said he has issued five cautions during the period to people who have repeatedly offended or allowed their ID to be used by another.
He said: “If they come to notice again it could result in a court appearance.
“It is an offence of fraud by false representation and the penalty field if indicted to crown court is a 10 year maximum prison sentence.”
News of the number of people issued with warnings comes after figures showed a record number of troublemakers have been banned from the town’s pubs and clubs.
Latest figures show more than 130 individuals have been banned or forced to sign behaviour contracts in the last 12 months.
It follows a huge clampdown with robust measures introduced by West Mercia Police and the Pubwatch scheme.
By Russell Roberts
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as this has been going on for are the clubs etc taking the false documents of the culprits and if using driving licences or passports don’t the clubs look at photos?
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Here in the US drinking is illegal for those under 21yrs of age.
Showing proof of your age is common here (carding). Side profiles of those under 21yrs are shown on drivers licences which is the most common form of ID here. If a bartender or owner sells alcohol to under age person they can and do get prosecuted with the owner loosing his licence to sell alcohol.
Rarely do you see problems with drunken hooligans here.
At 58yrs of age I have been (carded0 would you believe!
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jeff, as long as its got a short skirt and looks like a hooker they will let them in, even if they are 12 or 13.
kids these days can do anything they want and get away with it. bring back the cane in schools they would soon wisen up
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@Jeff The very fact that the police are issuing warnings to people for ID misuse points to the fact that local venues are checking (and confiscating) ID. If this were not the case then the police would not be aware of these individuals.
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