Police and council patrols to target under-age drinking in Ludlow

Street patrols will be stepped up in Ludlow in a bid to combat under-age drinking. Officers from Shropshire Council's trading standards and licensing teams and West Mercia Police will be joining forces.

Those on patrol in Ludlow over weekends will ensure traders are asking people buying alcohol and who appear under the age of 25 for identification.

Customers will also be spoken to about appropriate forms of identification.

Officers will also look out for illegal "proxy purchasing" where over 18s buy alcohol on behalf of minors.

The drive is part of the work of the pilot Ludlow Community Alcohol Partnership (L-CAP) which is trying to cut down on crime and anti-social behaviour resulting from under-age drinking.

The scheme has the full backing of traders, town and unitary councillors and police officers.

Frances Darling, trading standards manager for Shropshire Council and chairman of the L-CAP pilot scheme, said: "We have an excellent commitment from both retailers and pubs and they are now very much part of the solution to under-age drinking in Ludlow.

"Through the patrols, L-CAP is sending a very clear message to the community, that enforcers and traders are standing side by side to help each other prevent under-age sales of alcohol both directly and through proxy sales."

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for trading standards, welcomed the patrols.

He said: "The effects on the Ludlow community of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour cannot be ignored.

"The joint patrols aim to enforce, where necessary, but they are primarily about supporting and educating both the trade and customers."

In a joint statement Martin Taylor-Smith, Rosanna Taylor-Smith and Tracey Huffer, Shropshire councillors for Ludlow, said: "The joint patrols are only one part of the L-CAP's toolkit that is currently being developed to tackle the under-age drinking that occurs in Ludlow.

"It is particularly refreshing to see the trade commitment to the project and we would strongly encourage the community, as a whole, to get involved."