School pupils take part in sobering alcohol awareness session

Kent Police is taking proactive measures to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour in Dover.

Officers are passing on their experiences of dealing with people who commit crimes after drinking alcohol, to the town's students.

An Alcohol Awareness session is being run at Dover Police Station for school groups where youngsters find out what it is like to be detained in a police cell.

They also find out how their judgement and vision can be impaired by alcohol and take part in an exercise wearing special 'beer goggles' which simulate the blurred vision effect caused by drinking.

During the session the youngsters also hear from a soup kitchen volunteer who works with people who are addicted to alcohol and the devastating impact it has on their lives.

Acting Sergeant Neil Mennie, who gave a brief presentation to the students said: "Many of the crimes we arrest people for, have been committed by someone acting under the influence of alcohol, and that can be everything from minor criminal damage to more serious offences such as rape and assault.

"I see on a regular basis the effect that drinking alcohol can have on people, and how it can transform their behaviour and personality in a very short space of time.

"Being drunk is never an excuse for committing a crime! We all have to take responsibility for our actions, to know our limits, to socialise safely and to avoid trouble.

"That is an important message to get over to our youngsters who may have already started drinking alcohol regularly with their friends.

"I hope that by looking at the consequences of alcohol and binge drinking and doing it in a relaxed and interactive way, has given them some sobering food for thought."

The session was organised by Karen Griffiths from Dover Partnership Against Crime (DPAC) with some funding help from Dover Town Council.

Karen said: "This is just one part of our overall initiatives to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour that's related to alcohol.

"Kent Police and Dover Community Safety Unit have just launched a new project called 'Reducing the Strength' which includes off-licences agreeing not to sell strong alcohol drinks to people known to police to have serious alcohol-related issues, and we have around 10 retailers signed up so far.

"Officers also carry out patrols early on Friday and Saturday nights with the aim of intervening early with people who have been drinking and showing the early signs of causing anti-social behaviour.

"It's far better for an officer to tell you to go home and sober up, than being arrested, detained in a police cell, and then possibly convicted of a criminal offence" she added.

Any secondary school who is interested in the session for their pupils should contact Karen Griffiths on 01304 218172 or email Karen.griffiths@kent.pnn.police.uk.