East Lothian Courier | News | Youths ‘not out of control’

Monday, 8th September, 2008

Published: Thursday, 19th June, 2008 08:10

Youths ‘not out of control’

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POLICE and council officials have dismissed suggestions that underage drinking in public has become endemic in Haddington.

Members of Haddington Community Council last week voiced concerns over continued incidents of teenage drunkenness and anti-social behaviour.

Trouble spots highlighted included Lady Kitty’s Garden, the gardens of Haddington House, and High Street and its warren of connecting alleyways.

Last Friday night, a joint police/council patrol found three 15-year-old boys in possession of, and under the influence of, alcohol in High Street. The booze was confiscated and warning letters issued to parents.

Community council correspondence secretary, Charles Ingle, told the group’s meeting: “There are teenagers openly drinking in Lady Kitty’s Garden behind the Doo’cot. It is a regular weekend occurrence.

“They are as cute as they come. They are climbing over the walls and, as the place is locked at night, once they are over the wall it becomes their own private garden, and they have a free hand in which to carry on their activities.”

The Anti-social Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 empowers police officers to issue a range of spot fines from £40 for a variety of offences, including being drunk and incapable in a public place.

In addition, local authorities can serve anti-social behaviour orders on individuals where there is a proven pattern of offending.

Kenny Black, head of East Lothian Council’s anti-social behaviour team, said: “The police have been issuing more fixed penalty fines in Haddington in recent weeks, but it is not a case of the situation getting out of control.

“It is just that the police have now been given a very effective tool to use.”

Inspector Sean Scott, head of community policing for the Haddington, Dunbar and North Berwick areas, said high visibility joint patrols in the town would be stepped up as the summer wore on.

“Fixed penalty notices are a far more resource-friendly way of tackling anti-social behaviour,” he said. “It saves having to take two police officers off the streets to fill in forms back at the station when someone has been charged. From a law enforcement point of view, it is much more practical.”

As part of their on-going crackdown on the sale of booze to under-age drinkers, police will be conducting “test purchasing” at licensed premises using teenage volunteers.

Licensees caught breaking the law face fines of up to £5,000 or three months’ imprisonment.

Said Insp. Scott: “We are also targeting ‘agents’ – older youths who are approached by kids to buy drink for them.

“We urge any member of the public who has information about adults supplying youngsters with alcohol to contact us.”

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