Confiscation of Alcohol
The Home Office's Police and Crime Standards Directorate have recently undertaken campaigns to test the effectiveness of utilising the powers for Police Officers and PCSOs (Police Community Safety Officers) to confiscate alcohol from persons aged under 18 in reducing alcohol related crime and disorder.
The campaigns utilised the following two powers to target individuals and groups in locations where under age drinkers were known to gather or where calls were received from members of the public. The campaigns were targeted at school holiday periods when young people were more likely to be involved in this type of activity.
- The Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 provides police officers in uniform and designated PCSOs the power to remove alcohol from persons under 18 in a public place where alcohol is being consumed or the officer reasonably suspects consumption is about to take place.
- Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 provides police officers in uniform with the power to issue a direction to an individual aged 16 years or over who is in a public place to leave a locality. The direction will prohibit their return to that locality for a specified period not exceeding 48 hours.
During the national campaign in the February school holiday 2008 almost 21,000 litres (just over 44,000 pints) of alcohol were seized from over 5,000 young people nationally at a rate of 4 litres per seizure. During the campaign more than 23,000 young people were checked by officers and over 3,500 young people were directed to leave areas because of their actual or potential behaviour which was perceived as alcohol related crime or disorder.
Anecdotally police areas reported that during the time of the campaign, which was preceded by media announcements, there were reductions in anti social behaviour and calls for service from the public regarding youth nuisance, disorder and underage drinking.
Clearly the tactic of using large numbers of Police Officers or PCSOs to effect special patrols to confiscate alcohol is not sustainable at all times but BCUs and CDRPs should consider this tactic when intelligence indicates it may be successful in reducing alcohol related crime and disorder.
Response units and neighbourhood officers should also make full use of the powers on a daily basis to help tackle the ongoing problem of underage drinking and associated crime and disorder. A robust and consistent application of these powers will clearly show young people that possession of alcohol is not permitted. Dealing with alcohol confiscation is a quick process as officers need only dispose of the alcohol through pouring it away at the scene whereas dealing with any subsequent disorder may take much longer.
Officers must be mindful that any young people who are drunk may be vulnerable to personal harm and if applicable either parents should be called to take children home or children should be escorted to a safe location. In some circumstances the information gained regarding the young people at these incidents may be used towards ABC, ASBO or Parenting Order applications.
Officers should also use the confiscation as an opportunity to gain intelligence regarding access to alcohol by young people. This intelligence can be utilised in considering partnership action towards any shops where alcohol as been purchased either by or for young people and in arranging any appropriate messages to be delivered by youth groups and education departments.
Last update: Wednesday, April 09, 2008