Police Operation targets Alcohol Abuse

Zero tolerance on alcohol related offending, is the strong message from Northamptonshire Police, as the force launches its hard-hitting countywide marketing campaign to tackling alcohol fuelled violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

As part of Operation Nightsafe and in support of the wider multi-agency county alcohol harm reduction strategy, Northamptonshire Police have launched a campaign to raise awareness amongst drinkers that officers are clamping down on violence, disorder and underage drinking.

This campaign is being rolled out in key locations across Northamptonshire where there is a night time economy. A targeted radio campaign has also begun to remind listeners of the police activity.

It is also being coupled with tailored operational activity that will see officers providing a more visible police presence into the earlier hours when demand is greater.

Currently, alcohol is a big factor in a significant number of violent offences. The campaign uses impactive imagery of drunken violence and disorder as well as underage drinking to get the message out to the public that the police are clamping down.

Operation Nightsafe forms part of the force’s bid to build confidence in the fight against crime, and is the alcohol ‘branch’ in the overarching countywide ‘Confident Against Crime’ campaign.

Officers will be conducting intelligence led visits, targeting licensed premises suspected of committing offences and breaching the conditions of their licence.

The aim is to target the very small percentage of licensed premises that choose to ignore the law and the conditions of their licence and persist in selling alcohol to those who are under age or who are drunk.

Superintendent Mark Evans, leading on Nightsafe, said: “We want to ensure that Northamptonshire has a safe night-time economy, where people either out and about or living or working in the county can do so safely without fear of violence or anti-social behaviour.

“We want to make sure that it is communicated to the public, that we are clamping down.

“We will be working with town centre managers, licensing partners, traders, door staff, and the ambulance service to provide a coordinated response.

“Officers will also be wearing body worn video cameras that can be used to capture any disorder and allow us to take robust action against individuals who create problems in our town centres or leisure zones.

“We want to reassure people that they can have a safe and enjoyable time, whether visiting, working or living in the county and if people choose to offend we will take action against them.”

Check out the Force’s website at www.northants.police.uk to find out more about Operation Nightsafe.

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