Tag Archives: Community safety

New powers will effectively ‘close’ problem alcohol retailers

Businesses that persistently sell alcoholic drinks to children could lose their license to sell alcohol in a matter of a few short weeks, thanks to new powers given to Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Trading Standards Officers and Warwickshire Police can now stop businesses selling alcohol for up to two weeks where the retailer is found to have made two or more sales of alcohol to children in a three month period.

For many stores that rely wholly or predominately on the sale of alcohol for their profits, such as off-licenses, preventing a retailer from selling alcohol can often have a significant effect upon a business – effectively closing it for trade.

These new powers offer Trading Standards Services the opportunity to take quick and decisive action against problem businesses, whilst still allowing officers to take a full prosecution if a business transgressed further.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Most retailers understand the problems caused by under-age drinking, to the health of young people and in terms of anti-social behaviour in the community. They take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that children and young people cannot buy alcohol.

“However, there remains a small minority who despite education, support and warnings, continue to sell to under 18s. This new power will help us to take quick and decisive action against them which will have an effect not only on their alcohol sales, but their entire business.”

In the latest undercover test purchase exercise, 17 alcohol retailers were visited across North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby. Businesses that were suspected of selling alcohol to children were targeted and four sales of alcohol were made to 15 year old child volunteers.

  • Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Warwickshire: 11 alcohol test purchases attempted and one sale made (in North Warwickshire).
  • Rugby: six alcohol test purchases attempted and three sales made.

Warwickshire Trading Standards uses information and intelligence gathered from local communities to target problem businesses and investigations by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service are now on-going.

  • A recent survey has revealed that 20 per cent of 13-year-olds drink alcohol at least once a week. In 2009, the Chief Medical Officer advised that under-15s should not be drinking alcohol at all.
  • Alcohol misuse is a major public health problem, placing a heavy burden on society, and affecting a large number of individuals of all ages.
  • A new national alcohol strategy was published in March 2012.
  • In Warwickshire, alcohol is key public health priority having featured in the Director of Public Health’s annual report of 2011; it is a cross-cutting priority for all four Community Safety Partnerships; and there is Warwickshire wide alcohol implementation plan supported by all key stakeholders.

Under 18?

Contact Compass Warwickshire for drug and alcohol advice, information and specialist treatment on freephone 08000 88 72 48. The service is available between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Please leave a message if your call isn’t answered – someone will get back to you.

More information from – http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol

In addition to the new powers detailed above, brought in following an amendment to the Licensing Act 2003, Trading Standards Officers also have the option to prosecute as an alternative. The offence of persistently selling alcohol to children now carries a maximum fine of £20,000 (raised from £10,000) and following conviction, a Magistrates court could suspend the retailers licence to sell alcohol for up to three months.

Easter Holiday Crackdown on the Sale of Alcohol to Children

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service is cracking down on the sale of alcohol to children in a pre-Easter blitz.

Trading Standards Officers, supported by Warwickshire Police, carried out undercover test purchases of alcohol at 14 off-licenses and 3 pubs at locations in Rugby and South Warwickshire during March.

Three sales were made, two in South Warwickshire (one at a pub and one at an off-license) and one in Rugby (at an off-license).

Child volunteers, aged 14-16 with parental permission attempted to buy alcohol at the 17 separate on and off-license premises which included corner shops, small supermarkets, garages, national off-license chains and pubs.

Where sales were made, Police issued the seller with an £80 fixed penalty notice and Trading Standards Officers are now investigating the matter further.

Warwickshire Trading Standards has a number of options it can take ranging from advice to prosecution. Businesses could also face having additional conditions placed on their license to sell alcohol, or face losing it altogether.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said: “The Trading Standards Service works hard to educate shop owners and staff on the measures they can take to stop the sale of alcohol to children.”

“I would like to thank the majority of retailers who have consistently shown that they take their responsibilities seriously and do not sell alcohol to those aged under 18.”

“Under age drinking is a major cause of anti-social behaviour in our communities and can damage the health of young people.”

“We will continue our undercover work and take action against those businesses that are allowing children to buy alcohol.”

It’s not too late to make a sobering resolution

If you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution that will make a big impact on your health and well-being – try cutting back on alcohol.
Paul Hooper who manages the Warwickshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) said: “It’s a good idea to regularly assess your health and a great time to review drinking habits particularly if you’re trying to get back on track after festive excesses.
“A Drinkaware survey has found that 6.7 million people will set a pledge to drink less in the New Year, with over four million adults intending to give up completely during January. So you certainly won’t be alone if you make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink in 2012.”
To give people a bit more of an incentive, the DAAT are stressing some of the health and financial benefits of abstaining from alcohol. Drinking less is likely to result in better quality sleep and feeling better day to day.
Beers, wines and spirits contain lots of ‘empty’ calories so drinking less could help with New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. A tipple is also expensive, so cutting down and spending less can help people save for their post-Christmas credit card bills.
The team are also reminding people about the significant effects of excessive drinking on the body:
Short term effects
• Sexual difficulties like impotence (male)
• Slowed breathing and heartbeat
• Loss of consciousness
• Impaired judgment leading to accidents
• Poisoning which could be fatal
• Hangover leading to anxiety
Long term effects
• Certain types of cancer
• Liver and heart disease
• Strokes
• Weight gain
• Skin problems
• Damage to unborn child (female)
• Reduced fertility
Paul Hooper continued: “A good way to start planning to cut back on alcohol is to observe the government’s daily unit guidelines to measure how much you drink. The guidelines advise that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily (equivalent to a 175ml glass of 13% wine) and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer).
“Give your liver a break by also having at least 2 alcohol free days per week. However, this doesn’t mean making up for lost time over the remaining 5 days.”
People concerned about their own or someone else’s alcohol use, should visit the DAAT webpage www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol for advice and information about local services.
Go to www.nhs.uk/livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx for some useful tools to help you keep track of your drinking.

Free crime prevention event in Nuneaton

A crime prevention event is taking place in the car parks at the George Eliot Hospital on Friday 20th January 2012 between 1.30pm and 4.00pm.

Police Community Support Officers from Nuneaton and Bedworth Safer Neighbourhood teams supported by Warwickshire County Council Community Safety Officers, and Neighbourhood Watch volunteers, will be on hand with crime prevention information and advice.

Members of the public will able to pick up lots of handy tips to keep themselves safe from crime with particular focus on vehicle security. Visitors will be able to take away tamper proof number plate screws and other crime prevention items.

Inspector Patrick Devereux from Warwickshire Police said: “We are working hard with partners including Neighbourhood Watch, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and the county council to promote crime prevention messages and I would encourage people to attend and take notice of the advice on offer during the event.

This advice is particularly important at this time of year as the dark evenings and frosty mornings increase the risk of cars being stolen and broken into. We also need to raise awareness as we still hear frequently about cars targeted which have been left insecure and with valuable items clearly on show.

“We value the support from all the agencies involved in this event and I am grateful to the George Eliot hospital for their support in this initiative.”

Tips to secure your vehicle

  • Always leave your car locked.
  • Avoid leaving valuables in the car. If you must leave items in the car do not leave them on show.
  • Park with care in well lit areas, ideally near CCTV cameras.
  • Use a good quality steering lock and have a Thatcham approved alarm/immobiliser fitted.
  • Use tamper proof number plate screws which destroy the number plates if they are taken.

Special offer to encourage motorcyclists to ‘Take Control’

Motorcyclists are encouraged to take up a riding skills course at a special rate to prepare for the prospect of better weather and a new riding season.

The one day ‘Take Control’ skills enhancement experience, supported by Warwickshire County Council, is being offered to riders at a £10 discount if they sign up to complete the course before 31 March 2012.

Take Control has received rave reviews from its clients and the specialist motorcycling press for the way it helps riders develop their skills and confidence under the tutorage of professional and friendly instructors.

The usual cost fee is £30, but to encourage riders to take up the programme at the beginning of the season, a limited number of places have been made available at the reduced price of just £20 if taken before the end of March.

With a focus on practical on-road training that is tailored to the individual needs of riders and a maximum ratio of two students to one instructor, riders can expect to receive plenty of helpful and friendly advice and the opportunity to practice during their time with Take Control.

County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said: “Many motorcyclists hibernate their bikes during the winter to avoid the cold and the hazards presented by damp and greasy road surfaces. The new year is the time when riders make plans for the season ahead and look forward to being enticed back out onto the road by longer days and better weather.

“A day out with a Take Control instructor will help riders get back into their stride and is the ideal springboard to a great riding season. The programme will help riders brush up on their skills, learn new techniques and enjoy their experience even more.”

Take Control starts with a brief and a hot drink at a favourite café close to home before spending a day on the bike with plenty more café stops for refuelling, informal de-briefs and general biking chat. The instructors work hard to ensure the courses are enjoyable as well as informative and we are hoping motorcyclists will take up this offer over the next few months as they start looking forward to better weather and more opportunities to ride.”

The Take Control training programme is available to anyone who rides in Warwickshire and is subsidised by Warwickshire County Council.

To book a Take Control day telephone 0778 685 5744 or email tcmt4riders@aol.com.

New partnership brings help with drug and alcohol problems

Residents in Coventry and Warwickshire who have a drug or alcohol problem now have access to a new integrated and recovery-focused treatment service – The Recovery Partnership.

The partnership is provided by Addaction and Cranstoun, two national substance misuse charities which between them operate over 100 specialist services.

The Recovery Partnership is a one-stop-shop for people with a dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. It will build on the success of previous services and continue to offer interventions – such as drug and alcohol advice and information, needle exchange services, a range of treatment options including prescribing, detoxification and support for those going through the criminal justice system – but with a sharper focus on helping people to become drug or alcohol free.

The Recovery Partnership also provides structured day-care, aftercare and support for parents and carers to help people achieve and maintain this freedom from dependency. It replaces drug and alcohol services previously provided by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (services known as CDTs), Trust the Process Counselling, Swanswell Charitable Trust, Warwickshire Probation Trust and West Midlands Police.

”Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “Addaction and Cranstoun have already been delivering some drug and alcohol services in Warwickshire and we are confident that they will be effective in providing the joint service and improving the lives of those affected by drugs and alcohol.”

Coventry City Councillor Phil Townshend, Cabinet Member for Community safety and Equalities added: “Alcohol and drug misuse blights the lives of individuals, families and whole communities. Effective treatment – alongside policing, licensing and prevention – is crucial to making everyone healthier and safer.

“This new contract will build on the good performance of current providers in reducing the harm to individuals and communities and improve the support available to individuals wanting to become – and remain – free from drug and alcohol addictions.

The contract across Coventry and Warwickshire is worth £15.3 million over two years. It is believed to be the largest single contract of its type in the country.

A separate contract to offer services for young people with drug and alcohol issues in Warwickshire was also tendered at the same time. This has been awarded to national service provider Compass who took up the service at the start of the month.

Service bases will be open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours (evenings and weekends) to be confirmed.
Full contact details:

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire
37-38 Coton Rd, Nuneaton, CV11 5TW
Tel: 02476 641100
Fax: 02476 388060

Rugby
1 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PJ
Tel: 01788 569582
Fax: 01788 562576

Stratford & South Warwickshire
Stratford Healthcare, Arden Street, CV37 6HJ
Tel: 01789 206770
Fax: 01789 417750

Leamington & Warwick
16 Court St, Leamington Spa, CV31 2BB
Tel: 01926 885000
Fax: 01926 435198

Coventry

8 Ironmonger Row, Coventry, CV1 1FD
Tel: 02476 630135
Fax: 02476 234686