By Steven Bell

UNDER-AGE DRINKING dens are to be targeted by police in Tayside as part of a crackdown on alcohol- fuelled violence which gets under way across Scotland today.

The high-profile operation is the latest phase of the Safer Scotland campaign and has been funded with £1 million from the Scottish Government.

Over the next month police are aiming to reduce the amount of alcohol getting into the hands of young drinkers and officers in Tayside said they will be swooping on locations where children buy, stash and drink booze.

“We are taking an active part in the Safer Scotland campaign this month concentrating on violence that has been contributed to by the reckless use of alcohol,” Detective Superintendent Jim Cameron said.

“We will be doing a number of things, including the test purchasing scheme in premises that have been reported to us for not maintaining the standards that we would expect in the scrutiny of ages of purchasers.

“Alcohol is undoubtedly a contributor to violence in our communities and if we can restrict the amount of alcohol getting into the hands of youths in the first place we can reduce violence across the region.

“Tayside Police have always concentrated on alcohol-related problems but there will be a concerted effort this month with a particular focus on youths.”

He added, “Our intelligence suggests that they often buy alcohol early in the evening and store it ready for consumption later, so those patrols will be from the early evening right through to maximise the potential for stopping problems.”

Forces across Scotland will work closely with Community Safety Partnerships and Alcohol Action Teams, ensuring their work “goes to the heart of the local communities.”

They will tackle street drinking using bye-laws and through schemes such as the recently-relaunched Operation Homesafe in Perth.

Safer Scotland co-ordinator Chief Inspector Andy McKay said, “Alcohol-related violence is a problem that blights every community in Scotland, from major cities to rural areas.

“Christmas is a time when pubs and bars are at their busiest and many of those attending festive parties will be inexperienced drinkers who are more susceptible to becoming either victims or perpetrators of alcohol- fuelled violence.

“We are committed to tackling this issue and making our streets safer for everyone. Make no mistake, anyone caught can expect to be dealt with severely. We want to send out a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable.

“But this isn’t just about clamping down on those who engage in alcohol-related violence. We need to educate people about the dangers of excessive drinking and the effects it can have.”