Fake drunks used in pub sting operation

A police chief responsible for a sting operation using drunk actors to catch out pubs has refused to apologise for the tactic and warned it will be used again.

Forty-nine pubs and bars across Conwy and Denbighshire, in North Wales, were visited last month as part of the controversial operation.

A group of fake boozers were asked to act drunk and try to get served in venues.

And 42 out of the 49 premises served to the fakers, who were wearing stained clothes and asked to act wobbly on their feet. The actors also told bar staff they were drunk.

Trading standards officers then visited 25 "at risk" venues - and 11 of these were deemed to be serving genuinely drunk customers.

Chief Inspector Andrew Williams, North Wales Police's licensing lead for Conwy and Denbighshire said: "I make no apologies for this tactic and it will be used again."

He told The Publican​, the tactic was part of a long-term strategy to cut incidents of drunken violence.

But he added: "The emphasis with this operation, in the main, was one of education and support, and the agencies will be working with licensees in this regard," he added.

"However, some breaches were so appalling and repetitive that formal action will be taken in small number of cases."

Williams said the 11 venues where more action was being taken "already had existing issues" - and some will face a formal licence review.

But some licensees were not impressed by the tactic used by the authorities.

Haydn Williams, licensee at the Old White House, in Conwy, said he had not been visited by the actors, but argued the operation was "totally deceitful". "I can see where they're coming from but it's not a good use of police time," he said.