FOUR Crawley shops have been caught selling alcohol to children.
Officers from West Sussex’s Neighbourhood Licensing Team and Crawley Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out a test purchase operation on April 24.
Nine premises were tested with four selling alcohol to the 14 and 16-year-old children during the operation.
A police spokesman said: “The premises that sold alcohol to children were Coopers Convenience Store in Three Bridges Road, Kandies Sweets in Langley Parade, Wine Express in Worth Road and Galaxy Internet in Ifield Road. Enforcement action will now follow.
“Sussex Police takes the illegal sale of alcohol to children extremely seriously as, not only does this harm the children’s health, but consumption of alcohol by children can lead to them committing acts of anti-social behaviour which has a negative effect on the community as a whole.”
PC Ian Vasey of the Neighbourhood Licensing Team added: “It is important that people who sell alcohol must do so in a responsible and safe manner. We will continue to test premises where we have information to suggest under age sales are taking place and where appropriate we will take strong enforcement action. If anyone suspects a shop or pub is selling alcohol to children, please contact the police non-emergency number on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and pass on the details.”