20 March 2006
Six local premises are facing legal action, following an undercover operation which caught them selling age restricted goods to children as young as 14.
The operation is part of a joint Greenwich Council and police crackdown to ensure new licensing laws are being correctly followed.
The visits were arranged following numerous complaints from local residents, concerned about the illegal sales from these stores of age restricted products to young people in the borough.
All of the premises had previously been provided with a specially developed underage sales pack to alert them to the consequences of failing to follow licensing guidelines.
Incidents included a sales assistant at a large superstore selling alcohol to a 14 year old and another large store selling an aerosol spray can to a 14 year old.
Since the new licensing laws came into force on 24 November 2005, Council officers and Police have carried out visits to more than half of the licensed premises in the borough. Greenwich is thought to be the only authority in London that is funding extra police patrols to make sure landlords are behaving responsibly. The total number of visits carried out so far totals more than 1,700: this includes repeat visits where Police or Council found concerns, or where the licensee requested assistance.
Councillor Rajwant Sidhu, Cabinet member for Community Safety, said, “It is extremely disappointing that these eight premises have chosen to flout a law, which is specifically in place for the protection of children within our community. The Council takes a tough stance on this issue and I can only reinforce the message that underage sales will be not be tolerated in this borough and all offenders will be prosecuted.”
If you are concerned about a local store selling age restricted products to underage children, please contact Greenwich Council on 020 8921 8377. Alternatively, for more information on licensing laws, visit www.greenwich.gov.uk
ENDS