Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards and Gwent Police have vowed to tackle the issue of underage drinking and antisocial behaviour in Ystrad Mynach as the school holidays begin.
The authorities said last year’s school holidays coincided with a spike in antisocial behaviour in the town centre and park.
Trading Standards and Gwent Police officers recently carried out test purchases over a three-night period in Ystrad Mynach using underage volunteers.
In total, 50 attempts were made and alcohol was sold to a 14-year-old volunteer 12 times.
Cllr Eluned Stenner, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection said: “Retailers have now been made aware of the operation and our Trading Standards team are working with retailers to improve their age restricted sales prevention measures.
“We would like to remind everyone that it is a criminal offence to sell alcohol to a person under the age of 18. Additionally, it is also an offence to purchase alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18 and future operations will take place throughout the summer to test compliance.”
In 2017, the Ystrad Mynach area came under the spotlight because of increased levels of antisocial behaviour associated with large gangs of youths and underage drinking.
Police and council officials dealt with bad behaviour through enforcement but are wary of a repeat.
They have been meeting ahead of the summer period to discuss plans for preventative measures.
I wonder if these promises will come true, most of this anti social behaviour occurred opposite the police station, so what hope do we have of them stopping it in the town?? My brother lives in Ystrad mynach and never sees a constable or CPOs. We also have council wardens in this area and we dont see these either. Its no wonder the kids are playing up, the bosses of these organisations need to come down under cover to see what there employees are doing. I must say i have seen the council wardens out this week even though they were sat in a car playing on their phones.
We need real police on our streets not mickey mouse ones like CPOs or Council wardens. A waste of money. In my young days one village bobby sorted it all, so to say they are understaffed is a joke. We need actions not words.
I lived there in a friend’s house for two years when I first moved down here in 2005. The whole planet is going to the dogs sadly…….
Waste of money waste of time
Coudnt agree more Jack lets get rid of CPOs and Council Wardens. Then we can have real Police on our streets fighting crime instead of those mickey mouse ones.