Operation Hatton alcohol test purchases

Ten off licensed premises were tested in an undercover operation on the evening of Friday 12th February 2010. The operation involved a 14 and a 15 year old teenager, who with parental permission, visited off licensed premises in the Sedgefield, Bradbury , Fishburn, Trimdon Village Trimdon Grange and Trimdon Colliery area to see if they were able to purchase alcohol.

This joint operation between Durham Police and Durham County Trading Standards Officers has been coordinated through the Safe Durham Partnership. The partnership is committed to promoting multi agency working in tackling issues around the misselling or misuse of alcohol.”

As a result of the Police operation, only one premises failed which was Bradbury Service Station in Bradbury. An £80 Fixed Penalty ticket was issued to a member of staff.

The premises who successfully challenged the test purchasers were:

Trimdons.

Sanders (Jacks) Church Road Trimdon Village – .
CO-OP – Church Road Trimdon Village –
Sues – Redesdale Court Trimdon Grange – .
Jordans – Commercial Street Trimdon Colliery – .

Fishburn.

CO-OP – Butterwick Road Fishburn –
Sanders (Billy’s) – Walden Terrace Fishburn –

Sedgefield.

Theakstons – Front Street Sedgefield –
Sainsbury’s – Whitehouse Drive Sedgefield –
CO-OP – High Street Sedgefield –

“Overall the operation was a resounding success. It confirms the good work being undertaken by the licensees in the areas licensed premises. Many of the premises visited, operated a robust challenging policy .One of the aims of the operation was also to reinforce the need for constant vigilance ” – Sergeant 919 Brian O’Connor, Sedgefield Neighbourhood Police Team

Anti-social behaviour is often fuelled by alcohol, and it is important that as well as carrying out high visibility Police patrols in the area, we target the source in which the alcohol is being purchased from. We will continue Operations like this over the next few months in order to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

If you would like to discuss the recent operation or any other issues in the Sedgefield Fishburn and Trimdon area, you are invited to attend your local PACT (Police and Communities Together) meeting. For more information please visit www.durham.police.uk