Residents’ feedback helps tackle underage drinking and antisocial behaviour in Northallerton

Northallerton residents are sharing their concerns to help police tackle crime and antisocial behaviour caused by underage drinking.

The information will be used to develop Northallerton’s Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP).

The tried-and-tested initiative has been launched elsewhere in North Yorkshire to make communities safer and protect young people.

When the CAP launches in Northallerton on Friday 24 June, it will bring together a range of tactics, including test purchases in the town to prevent sales of alcohol to children.

Officers will also do intervention work to prevent under-18s drinking and education work to help young people understand the risks.

Police police working with retailers, schools, neighbourhood groups, Trading Standards, local authorities and other emergency and health services.

The move comes as part of North Yorkshire Police’s response to concerns raised by residents about antisocial behaviour, underage drinking and other crime linked to it.

Residents of the Northallerton area are being urged to share their views in an online survey, here.

Community alcohol partnerships have recently been launched in other parts of North Yorkshire, including Richmond and coastal communities.

Northallerton CAP will join more than 240 areas nationally where CAPs have been introduced. They have led to a 61% reductions in weekly drinking by teenagers, a 50% drop in young people hanging round shops and asking adults to buy alcohol, and a 42% decline in anti-social behaviour involving drink.

PCSO Helenor Gwatkin, who is leading the launch for North Yorkshire Police, said: “Northallerton residents have been encouraged to share their views and experiences in an online survey.

“This gives us an even better understanding of the issues we’re trying to tackle and ensures people feel part of the process.

“Targeted patrols are one part of the solution, but the community alcohol partnership allows us to focus on prevention and early intervention. This stops issues from arising, reduces offences and helps educate young people to make better choices.

“CAPs have been extremely well supported in other parts of North Yorkshire and I am confident the initiative in Northallerton will be just as well received.”

Police will team up with youth services and other local organisations to provide alcohol-free activities for young people and with local schools to take a proactive approach to alcohol education.

Trading Standards and police will arrange test purchases from local shops and will work with retailers to raise awareness of what they can do.

About community alcohol partnerships:

CAPs bring together a range of local stakeholders with a shared interest in preventing underage drinking and encouraging responsible drinking among young adults.

A rigorous evaluation framework shows how this innovative partnership approach has brought significant reductions in alcohol supply to children, alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and underage street drinking, with CAP areas demonstrating:

• 61% average reductions in weekly drinking among 13–16-year-olds
• 99% of retailers passed Challenge 25 compliance test for alcohol sales
• 86% of retailers did not sell alcohol when they suspected it was a ‘proxy’ sale
• 50% reduction in young people hanging around shops and asking adults to buy alcohol for them
• 42% reduction in youth alcohol-related anti-social behaviour

For more information see: www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk