Police in street crackdown to test drinks for alcohol

YOUTHS in Bradford could be stopped by police and tested to see if they are drinking alcohol as part of a crackdown aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and drink-related problems.

Neighbourhood policing teams in the city will be using alcohol testing strips to check if youths have been drinking.

The strips are being used during evenings to test bottles and cans of soft drinks where it is believed youths have poured alcohol into them.

The strips change colour depending on the level of alcohol which is in the drinks being tested.

The work forms part of Alcohol Awareness Week which began on October 18.

Su Dawson, Bradford South Police licensing officer, said: “This is the first time we have used the testing strips in the Bradford South division and already they are proving extremely effective.

“Over the last few weeks we have used them in various areas in the city centre and officers covering other patches have now been equipped with these".

“Some people place alcohol into unmarked containers such as water bottles or cans of soft drink to hide the fact they are drinking.

“These strips enable the neighbourhood policing team officers to pick out all those who are drinking on the streets and make sure they take the alcohol from them.

“As a result, police community support officers are now confiscating and removing alcohol on a daily basis.”

Insp Kevin Pickles of the City Ward Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This kind of intervention is key in the prevention of anti social behaviour and is a method we shall continue to use.

“It is important that I ensure the city centre is free from problems related to alcohol consumption on the streets.

“The strips do not contaminate the drinks and are simply a useful indicator to the officers.”