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| Parish Community Safety Officers with confiscated alcohol |
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| Hythe Summer Focus 2007 |
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Read the latest Summer Focus 2007 |
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The Chief Constable of Cheshire blames cheap alcohol and parents who abdicate responsibility for their teenagers for police having a “constant battle” against antisocial behaviour.
We certainly accept the first of his reasons and accept that parents must bear some responsibility when youngsters bring alcohol from home.
The problem is obviously nationwide.
Below is a recent article about how we are dealing with the problem in Hythe & Dibden.
We don’t have all the answers but we know that sustained effort (and employing our own Community Safety Officers) will give us the best chance of minimising the problem.
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ALCOHOL
Recent reports tell us that over 70% of antisocial behaviour problems are caused by excess drinking. Locally our Community Sergeant reckons it is as high as 85%!
At a recent meeting of our safer neighbourhoods liaison group it was revealed that the voluntary agreement by local off licences and shops not to sell to under 21s is generally effective. Unfortunately it appears that some youngsters bring alcoholic drinks from home and that is a much more difficult problem to solve.
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I was talking with a friend of mine the other day, and casually remarked that I have far greater concerns about the abuse of alcohol, particularly by youngsters, than use of illegal drugs. She was astonished to hear me say that, but completely agreed with me, and said I was the frist person she had heard express that sentiment.
But alcohol is so cheap, and so readily available, that it now poses, I believe, a much greater danger to a far greater number of our vulnerable young people, than illicit substances.
Someone who has drunk too much, too often, is at far greater risk of accident, of indulging in unprotected sex, and suffering irreversible damage to their long-term health, taht I really think we have somehow to persuade the government to take some very swift measures to address the issue.
Anyone ready to start a "Mothers Against Alcohol" movement??
Brenda, Hythe |
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