Holiday crackdown

By Kelly Yates
UNDERAGE drinking and vandalism are the targets of a police crack down set to take place in the City of Casey during the next school holidays.
Acting Inspector Bruce Kitchen told the News police would be stepping up patrols for a new operation in the hope of reducing the amount of property damage and the number of youths affected by alcohol in public places.
He said police had addressed the issue as an “escalating problem” in the municipality.
Act Insp Kitchen said police noticed a rise in property damage cases during the school holiday periods, however police also discovered an increase in the number of youths loitering the streets on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.
“Police will be taking a zero tolerance with no warnings for youths caught drinking,” he said.
“We are taking this issue very seriously.”
Act Insp Kitchen said parks were one of the hot spots where youths were found to be congregating.
In addition to the operation, police have recently run information sessions with local liquor outlets in an effort to re-enforce the message that selling alcohol to underage youths is illegal, according to Act Insp Kitchen.
“A lot of the youths are getting random people to purchase the alcohol for them,” he said.
“This makes it hard for police to manage.”
Act Insp Kitchen said the message was clear.
“If a youth asks you to purchase alcohol say no,” he said.
Casey’s crime trends showed an increase when compared to the same time last year with regard to property damage.
Act Insp said the vandals were targeting letterboxes, street signs and motor vehicles.