Under-age crackdown
Police in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, have launched a crackdown on under-age drinking in the area. Operation Athlete will run for the next 25 weeks. The operation, carried out over last weekend, was declared successful after more than 50 youths were stopped by officers. Inspector Steve Curry said: "The idea is to combat anti-social behaviour we see in our neighbourhood that's affecting the quality of life for residents. "Where appropriate, alcohol will be taken from young people, they will be taken home, parents will be informed and, in some cases, we will get video footage of the behaviour to show them." DJ rounds on car thief A DJ restrained a man who stole and twice crashed a car he took from outside a bar. Melvyn Franklin leapt into action when the thief struck after a karaoke night at Strikers bar, in Longbrook Street, Exeter. He was packing up last Thursday (12 June) when someone jumped into his assistant's car. The Vauxhall Corsa crashed into a traffic light and then reversed into a bollard, almost taking the driver's door off. Franklin, 36, alerted by the noise of screeching tyres and the cries of his assistant, grabbed the driver and sat on him until police arrived. A man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and aggravated vehicle-taking. Scilly move on chopper A group of 10 drunken revellers who had been on an all-day bender were arrested after trying to open an emergency window on a helicopter bringing them back from the Scilly Isles. The men had been out drinking in pubs and hotels on St Mary's to celebrate a birthday when they boarded the helicopter last Friday evening, (13 June). They had already been barred from ordering drinks at the airport bar after causing trouble. Cabin crew on the helicopter called for help after other passengers became terrified at the actions of the group. Police met the helicopter at Penzance Heliport in West Cornwall and made the arrests. Devon and Cornwall Police said: "They were arrested under the Aviation Security Act for endangering the security of an aircraft." The 10 men have been bailed until 30 July. Tolbooth hit by raiders Police are appealing for information after thieves robbed a Scottish restaurant of £700 worth of alcohol just days before it was due to re-open. The Tolbooth, in Stonehaven, lost between 45 and 50 bottles of Champagne and bottles of whisky and wine in the raid last weekend. The owners Robert and Jacki Cleaver arrived at the restaurant to discover a rear window had been smashed and bottles of Piper Heidsieck, malt whisky and other drinks had been taken. The couple, who used to own the well-known Creel Inn seafood restaurant in Catterline, had only just bought the Tolbooth. Police believe the raid was carried out by amateurs as the thieves left behind more expensive bottles of alcohol. Tagged for pub attack A businessman who attacked a pub landlord has been ordered to wear an electronic tag for five months. Barry David Watkins, 31, and two friends, abused customers in the Branksome Arms in Bournemouth after a drinking binge last summer. The IT boss attacked landlord Shaun Mitchell after an all-day drinking session following the England v Argentina World Cup match on 7 June, 2002. One of the trio was said to have shouted: "This place is full of poofs", before a fight broke out in the pub. Watkins, of Stourcliffe Avenue in Bournemouth, denied assault by beating but was found guilty by Bournemouth magistrates. He is now the subject of a curfew and must wear the tag at all times. He was ordered to pay £300 to his victim and £329 costs. Posters dog drug dealers Posters declaring: "Coventry Pubs against Drugs" have gone up in pub windows in the south of Coventry as part of a joint initiative between police and licensees. They warn drug dealers that sniffer dogs make regular patrols.
