Youths commit 600 crimes while under influence of alcohol

Between January 2010 and December last year there have been 614 crimes committed by people under 18 who were under the influence of alcohol in the county, figures from a Freedom of Information request have revealed.

But the number of reported crimes committed by youths under the influence are steadily dropping in the county year-on-year.

One of West Mercia Police's chief inspectors, Sarah Corteen, said that underage drinking can be a catalyst for anti-social behaviour and can also make young people themselves vulnerable to being victims of crime.

Last year minors reportedly committed 42 drink-related crimes which ranged from assaults, to criminal damage and rape.

While in 2016 there were 49 crimes and 56 in 2015.

Back in 2010 there were 118 reports of crimes, almost triple the amount reported last year.

The alcohol-related crimes reportedly committed by youths eight years ago include arson, aggravated vehicle taking, assault, criminal damage, shoplifting, and possession of drugs.

Of the reported crimes over eight years, 78 resulted in the offender being charged, 45 of the offenders were cautioned, and in 102 cases the outcome was a community resolution.

In 45 cases, prosecution was not in the public interest, and in 23 cases, formal action was not in the public interest, it has been revealed.

Safer Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Sarah Corteen said: “There is no doubt underage drinking can be a catalyst for anti-social behaviour and in some cases lead to young people committing criminal offences when they may not had they not been under the influence of alcohol. Not only that underage drinking makes young people themselves vulnerable to being a victim of crime.

“We work closely with our partner agencies to help stop young people from buying alcohol in the first place and regularly carry out test purchase operations with Trading Standards.

"Staff caught selling alcohol to anyone underage will be faced with a fine, and if the premises is consistently caught selling alcohol to underage teenagers the licence will be reviewed and strict conditions imposed on it. Adults found purchasing alcohol for young people will also face a fine. If officers on patrol come across underage teenagers in possession of alcohol they will take it off them."

Chief Inspector Corteen added: “In addition, we work closely with Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council to ensure that youth work and education messages cover the issue of alcohol misuse with young people, including Crucial Crew which is ongoing this week. We also work closely with Shropshire Recovery Partnership around alcohol misuse.

“Parents play a crucial role in helping to curb underage drinking and we would always urge parents to make sure they know where their child is and what they are doing when they are out.

“While the focus here is on underage drinking, it is also a timely reminder around drinking sensibly for adults too, in particular with the start of the world cup next week where we anticipate people may drink slightly more.

"Our priority is keeping people safe and we would always urge people not to make themselves vulnerable by having too much to drink, or end up in trouble because they have lost control of their actions.”