Police crackdown on young drinkers

Apr 3 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy had to be taken to hospital after downing a bottle of vodka.

Police took the youth to accident and emergency after finding him almost unconscious after drinking a whole bottle of the spirit within a short space of time.

He was one of dozens of drunken kids discovered during a month-long police crackdown in Troon and Prestwick.

It came after residents complained of youths urinating, gathering, drinking, littering and generally creating a disturbance in the towns.

More than 54 litres of alcohol were seized by officers, and 30 people were searched for weapons.

Inspector Bob Smith, from Troon police office, said: “Antisocial behaviour in any form will not be accepted in our communities.

“Thankfully only a small minority continually engage in this type of behaviour.

“Those who do will be dealt with robustly, particularly those young people who consume alcohol and go on to create disturbances.”

Throughout the initiative, young people were regularly found with £20 to £30 in cash on a Friday and Saturday night.

Some had already spent their money on alcohol and some had even used a taxi to uplift their alcohol and return to the hot spots.

Inspector Smith continued: “Young people need to realise the danger they put themselves in when wandering the streets drunk.”

RESULTS

l 54 visits to licensed premises in Troon and Prestwick.

l four fixed penalty tickets issued for drinking in public.

l 67 searches for alcohol.

l four stop searches for drugs.

l 30 stop searches for weapons.

l 24 contact cards submitted and letters sent to parents.

l two persons arrested on warrants.

l two drunk juveniles taken home.

l 54 litres of alcohol seized or abandoned from underagers.

la 17-year-old male reported for drinking in public.

la 14-year-old female reported for attempting to pervert the course of justice.