Information on Leicestershire

57 premises targeted in largest ever test purchase operation in Leicester

Police have carried out the largest number of test purchases ever done in a single day in Leicester as part of an ongoing campaign to crackdown on underage drinking in the city.

A total of 57 off-licences, pubs and bars across Leicester were targeted by undercover officers on Saturday March 21, with the help of three 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old posing as customers.

Out of 41 off-licences visited, only two sold alcohol to the underage customers. However the results for pubs and bars were very disappointing with 50 per cent, a total of eight out of 16, failing a test purchase.

The premises which failed the test purchase operation will be ‘named and shamed' by police in due course, once interviews have taken place.

PC Jon Webb from the city centre violence and disorder team, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "The failure rate for off-licences has improved significantly since we started this campaign in January, when the failure rate was generally around 30 per cent.

"We have done a lot of work with off-licences to remind them of their legal responsibilities and the penalties they could face if caught selling alcohol to under-18s, and we are pleased to see that this appears to be having an affect.

"Unfortunately this operation shows that some pubs and bars in Leicester have taken their eye off the ball. A 50 per cent failure rate for pubs and bars is appalling and will not be tolerated. We will continue to closely monitor premises and will not hesitate to bring those which persist in selling alcohol to children before Leicester City Council's Licensing Committee for a review of their licence.

"The premises targeted on Saturday were chosen because they had either failed a previous test purchase operation or because we had received information from the community that indicated they were selling alcohol to children. We urge residents to continue to let us know about any shops, pubs or bars breaking the law so that we can monitor them in the future."

The minimum penalty for a sales assistant caught selling alcohol to a young person under the age of 18 is an £80 fine. The consequences for a licence holder are more serious and could result in them losing their licence to sell alcohol.

Test purchase operations have been carried out in Leicester as part of an ongoing campaign funded by the Home Office to tackle underage drinking, alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.

Anyone with information about an off-licence or pub that sells alcohol to young people under the age of 18 should call Leicestershire Constabulary on 0116 222 2222 or Crimestoppers, which if free* and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

* Please note some mobile phone service providers may charge for this call.

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