Sting police treat hosts as criminals

Licensees in North Wales are furious after police asked to take fingerprints of staff who were caught serving a minor in an underage sting.

They also accused police of "underhand" tactics by using a girl who looked at least 20 - and said the incident has caused lasting damage to relations between officers and licensees. Ironically, the region's police chief Roly Schwarz recently caused a storm after he called for 16-year-olds to be allowed to buy alcohol in pubs.

According to licensees, 68 of the 71 rural pubs in Clwyd that were tested in the sting operation in December were caught out. Bar staff at all 68 venues were slapped with £80 fines.

One female host, who received an £80 fine herself for serving the girl, accused the police of being more interested in making money by tricking licensees than in helping pubs to cut underage drinking.

The licensee, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "I was cautioned and I was asked if they could take my fingerprints. I said, 'No. I'm not a criminal and I am not prepared to do that.'

"I was shocked, I was devastated, I was angry. I didn't think the police could sink so low. If this is what it's coming to I will sell up the business because I don't want a criminal record."

The licensee claimed that the minor was dressed up to look in her early 20s and was accompanied by a plain-clothed adult policewoman. It is rumoured the girl was offered free cinema tickets as payment for her help.

Graham Dodds, licensee of the Downing Arms in the village of Bodfari, said officers asked to take the fingerprints of a barmaid at the pub as she was slapped with an £80 fine. "I shook my head and said, 'You must be joking'," he said.

Licensees are preparing to write a letter of complaint to the police about their treatment - in particular, for using girls who look much older than 18.

Under the new Licensing Act, pubs caught serving minors can make a defence that the person did not look under 18.

Dodds, who reckoned the girl in the sting looked around 22 or 23-years-old, said that in such circumstances the police operation amounted to "entrapment".

David Rowlands, freehold host of the Dinorben Arms in Bodfari, fumed: "I've been in the trade 22 years and never seen anything like this.

"This is such a step backwards. They are not going to get any help from us again."

The Morning Advertiser left a message with North Wales Police but received no reply.