Nationwide pub sting ops planned
The Government has told every police force in the country to target 20 licensed premises in their area during the latest round of sting operations.
Police are set to road test the new tougher powers on underage sales during the 10-week sting operation, which is due to begin in May. Funding for the operation will be available from the Home Office.
I understand that each police Crime Reduction Unit will be asked to target 20 premises within their areaPoppleston Allen lawyer Graeme Cushion.
Under new laws that come into force on 6 April, pubs can be closed for three months and premises licence holders fined £10,000 if three minors are served within a three-month period.
Poppleston Allen lawyer Graeme Cushion said: "I understand that each police Crime Reduction Unit will be asked to target 20 premises within their area and seek to visit them a minimum of three times within a 10 week period from the beginning of May. This is the period during which the funding will last.
"If the first two visits prove unsuccessful from the police's point of view - ie, the test purchase fails - then they will still carry out a third visit.
"If that visit results in a sale being made, they will visit twice more before the end of the 10 week period in an attempt to secure three underage sales in three months."
Cushion said he expected the 20 venues to be ones that have previously failed test purchase operations.
He added: "Whilst there appears to be no defence whatsoever to this new offence, the importance of due diligence cannot be underestimated, both as a preventative measure or use in mitigation should the worst come to the worst.
"Magistrates will obviously view premises very differently if the premises licence holder can demonstrate that they have put rigorous systems in place to make sure that training is carried out and that any refusals of service are recorded. A lower level of penalty would surely be imposed and the likelihood of the suspension of alcohol would equally be reduced."
