POLICE AND COUNCIL IN GAER DISORDER CRACKDOWN

One of Wales’s largest operations to target underage drinkers and antisocial behaviour is underway in Newport. Up to 40 teenagers and a number of traders from Newport are facing legal action following a joint council and police operation tackling alcohol-related disorder focussing on the Gaer.The operation involving trading standards, the community safety wardens, and Gwent police is believed to be one of the largest operations of its kind in Wales.
In recent months problems with youths and alcohol-related antisocial behaviour in the area have intensified. The situation has escalated to the point that youths as young as 12 years old have been caught drinking alcohol while one 13-year-old girl almost died, needing her stomach pumped twice due to alcohol which was traced to shops on the Gaer estate. More than 40 youths have been identified as being involved in cases of drinking, swearing, fighting and other acts of disorder in Newport.
Responding to demand from the community, a major intelligence gathering operation has taken place in the past few weeks focussing on the area around Gaer shops, Hillview flats, the community centre, and Dickens Drive.

The footage recorded 65 offences of youths drinking, 60 offences of urinating, 51 cases of under age purchasing of alcohol, plus numerous breaches of ASBOs and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). There were also two drug offences. Wardens and police confiscated large amounts of alcohol from youths and during the period of the operation there was a marked decline in the levels of offending.Trading standards officers are now targeting those traders believed to be selling alcohol to underage youths, either directly or from adults buying drink for them.