Police chiefs pan 'soft' guidance on underage sting ops
Police chiefs want to take a tougher approach to underage sting operations with children allowed to use fake ID and dress to look older than they are.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) criticised new guidance on sting operations by local government co-ordinator LACORS for being too soft.
Minutes from a meeting of the Retail Standards Group, Home Office and Trading Standards on 24 May, seen by the MA, reveal ACPO believes children in sting operations should carry misleading identity documents.
ACPO's Adrian Studd said the test purchase operation "should replicate the real world where young people download cards from the internet to use if asked".
Studd added: "In the real world young people make themselves up to look older than they are. Test purchase operations should replicate this."
Studd also called for more flexibility for children to lie about their age.
The LACORS guide advises children to lie in "exceptional circumstances", where venues repeatedly serve minors.
Studd added: "There's no point in conducting a test purchase op if a young person is going to give their real age when asked."
BII central region chairman Bernard Brindley said: "As much as we would like to eradicate underage drinking, this attitude doesn't help because the licensee would feel he is being set up."
A LACORS spokesman said: "Guidance is for local government not police. ACPO thought it should promote more flexibility."
