Officers in Barry carried out an alcohol and knife test-purchase operation recently in a number of local shops following concerns about shopkeepers selling alcohol to children.

Police and Trading Standards officers tested that alcohol was being sold legally and they also tested that knives were not being sold to children.

Four shops were checked for alcohol sales and only one shop passed. Four shops were checked for legal sale of knives and all of them passed.

PC Jason Young of South Wales Police said,

There have been a number of anti-social behaviour incidents and disorder due to children being able to buy alcohol from stores in Barry.

Officers have had to take a number of children home intoxicated after receiving complaints of anti-social behaviour and disorder in the street.

Trading Standards and South Wales Police have a zero-tolerance approach to the sale and supply of alcohol to underage people and the consumption of alcohol by underage people within our communities.

We would urge parents and carers to talk to their children about their whereabouts and the dangers of underage drinking; diverting them into age-appropriate activities.

During the operation, we gave guidance and education to the retailers and shopkeepers about the law on selling alcohol and knives and we sent warning letters to the businesses that failed."

Retailers are risking prosecution and ultimately their licence to sell alcohol if they sell to underage children. We intend to carry out further test-purchase operations on a regular basis to deter this from happening.

If anyone has any information about underage alcohol sales or knife crime, they are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.