Police urged to cut off booze supply for teens
‘Catch the adults buying drink’says council chairman
Community leaders in Halfway say the police must catch those buying alcohol for teens if the town is ever to tackle increasing anti- social behaviour.
John Edgar, chairman of Halfway Community Council, said more needed to be done to weed out adults who are buying the alcohol that fuels reckless and dangerous behaviour.
His comments come two weeks after a crowd of drunk youths vandalised six cars before threatening residents on Castle Chimmins Road.
Wing mirrors were ripped off cars and plant pots thrown on to vehicles on Friday, July 15.
“These are not trivial things,” Mr Edgar said.
“What they really need to do is catch the adults buying the drink. They are not getting it themselves in Halfway. It’s other people that are buying it for them.
“The adults charge them £ 1 each to buy it and then take it around the back and give it to them. We have argued that point for years.
“I know at least two adults are buying them drink. If there’s five or 10 of them and it costs them £1 each, if there are 10 kids they are making £10. It’s a cushy number if they are not getting caught.”
Mr Edgar added: “We need more CCTV. It doesn’t cover where they hand it over.
“We need more plain clothed police at the weekend to catch these adults.
“There are three off licences within 100 yards of each other.
“The shops are diligent, but if someone is buying six carry outs in a night it’s not just for them. It’s Mad Dog and that stuff so they should know.”
PC Laura Taylor of the Lanarkshire community policing unit, said: “We would encourage Halfway Community Council to contact us on 101 when they observe this taking place to allow officers to attend and deal with it accordingly.
“I will speak to South Lanarkshire Council community wardens and arrange for Craigaillan Avenue and Glen Street to be added to the route plan for their mobile CCTV van which patrols the area.
“Our community investigation unit are plain clothes officers that regularly carry out patrols in the Halfway area and are aware of the recent disorder at Castle Chimmins Road.”