ONLY 11 - AND TOO DRUNK TO STAND UP

Sep 26 2007 Paisley Daily Express

Shame of kids nabbed by cops in booze crackdown

SOZZLED schoolboys aged as young as 11 were so drunk that they were unable to stand up when police found them at a drinking den.

A pile of cheap wine and cider bottles, most of them empty, were discovered just feet away from the youngsters.

With them in a Paisley housing scheme were two other children, aged 14 and 15, who had downed so much booze that they couldn’t walk or talk.

Now worried police chiefs are urging parents to help them tackle the teeny tippling culture that is putting the lives of Renfrewshire kids at risk.

Paisley police boss Superintendent Alastair Neilson said: “We have found some children in a terrible state through alcohol. It’s alarming and could end in tragedy.”

The 11-year-old boys were among scores of youngsters rounded up during a clampdown on under-age drinking in Paisley and the neighbouring towns of Johnstone, Renfrew and Erskine.

Mr Neilson revealed that more than 200 litres of booze was confiscated from drunken kids and poured down the drain.

Some of the youngsters who were caught were taken home and, with their parents’ consent, have been referred to the Young Persons Advisory Project to help them kick the booze habit.

Other offenders have either been reported to the Reporter to the Children’s Hearing or the procurator fiscal.

Cops also swooped on a series of liquor stores and, as a result, six licensees are being reported for selling alcohol to kids.

As part of the crackdown, police worked with other agencies, including neighbourhood wardens, to regularly check public parks and schools.

Their joint efforts led to a large rise in the number of teeny terrors who face charges for breach of the peace and drink-related offences.

During the purge, crime in general fell dramatically, with break-ins and vandalism to schools substantially down on the same period last year.

Mr Neilson said: “There has been a lot of police activity in and around schools, especially those targeted in the past, and that has obviously helped to minimise trouble.

“In parks and public places, there was a rise in alcohol cases and that has led to a large number of offenders facing charges.

“In some cases, weapons such as blades were seized from young people, who were also charged.”

Mr Neilson has now warned liquor store staff to make sure alcohol is not sold to people under the legal age.

He said: “Licensees and shop staff who ignore this warning will be charged and appear in court. Reports will also be sent to Renfrewshire Licensing Board, which has the power to withdraw licenses.”