Celebrating 12 months of success for the Selby CAP

This week marks one year since the Selby District started to benefit from the launch of its own Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP).

The Selby CAP is an initiative between North Yorkshire Police, Selby District Council, schools, retailers, neighbourhood groups and health providers who all work together alongside local communities.

The project focuses on education, prevention, and enforcement relating to the misuse of alcohol. It works with young people to highlight the dangers that are associated with using alcohol and drugs, and with the wider community to reduce antisocial behaviour.

In the first 12 months the Selby CAP has made significant progress. Neighbourhood Policing Teams have visited schools and colleges to talk to students about various issues which include the dangers that are associated with alcohol and their personal safety. Officers and PCSOs have also worked with young people on developing ideas for new activities in the local community.

The CAP has worked closely with retailers to implement the Challenge 25 scheme where staff ask young people for identification when serving alcohol. Several test purchasing operations have been carried out in partnership with Trading Standards. These operations seek out and deal with any outlets that are not adhering to the legal requirements of their license. In a recent operation ten off-licences were subject to test purchase visit, out of the ten there were two that failed.

After 12 months of building momentum, the Selby CAP is poised for further success as it continues to work with schools and community groups. Future aims of the CAP will include further work with Trading Standards and retailers to ensure that licensed premises are adhering to their requirements and are acting responsibly. The CAP will also continue to build relationships with young people in the district to reduce antisocial behaviour.

Inspector Martin Wedgwood from the Selby Neighbourhood policing team commented:

“I believe that communities across the Selby District have benefited from the work of the partnership since its launch 12 months ago.

“The collaborative working ensures that there is a joined-up approach to tackling antisocial behaviour in our area.

“I am confident that the Selby CAP will continue to build on its success and make a positive impact moving forward. “

Cllr David Buckle, Lead Member for Communities and Economic Development, added:

“This is a great example of how we work locally with our partners to make a real difference to the community we serve.

“This is a project that looks at the broader picture around the issue of alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour, and the ways to tackle to problem. By working in a more joined up way, the project can deliver effective results for our residents and businesses.”

 Cllr Tim Grogan, Lead Member for Health and Culture, said:

 “While this initiative has been running, we’ve seen it deliver concrete benefits to the local community by educating retailers and licensed premises to remind them of the importance of Challenge 25 as well as working with young people themselves to encourage behaviour change.

“I’m delighted that it will continue to tackle this issue and deliver real results for the people of the Selby district.”

The new North Yorkshire Council will launch on Saturday (April 2023) when North Yorkshire County Council and the existing seven district and borough authorities in the county merge in the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974 to pave the way for a devolution deal. The Selby Community Alcohol Partnership and close working with North Yorkshire Police will continue.