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Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
Surrey Heath
Underage Drinking Campaign Launched
In a bid to tackle underage drinking and issues of youth disorder the
charity Surrey Crimestoppers, working with the Safer Surrey Heath Partnership,
launched a major campaign across the Borough last Friday, 17th February
2006.
The campaign targets all members of the community (not just young people),
calling on them to report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
who the underage drinkers are and how and where they are obtaining their
alcohol. Posters will be appearing throughout the Borough and postcards
are being sent out with all Council Tax bills.
The campaign was launched by the Mayor of Surrey Heath, Cllr. Stewart Stevenson in Main Square shopping centre, Camberley. At 10.30am the Urban Dance Company (UDC) Juniors performed to Lose Control by Missy Elliot to show that children don’t need to drink to have fun. The performance was repeated at short intervals during the day and attracted a lot of public attention and interest in the Campaign.
Jane Wright from Surrey Crimestoppers added, “We welcome the opportunity to launch our underage drinking campaign in Surrey Heath. The more people who are given the Crimestoppers message, the more likely it is that we will receive valuable information that will help stop underage drinking and take the resulting crime and anti-social behaviour off our streets. Many people know who it is committing these offences. They want to do something about it but for whatever reason do not want to go direct to the police. This is where Crimestoppers comes in. By calling the 0800 555 111 number you can pass on your information without ever having to give your name or any personal details. No-one will know it was you who called.”
The Mayor, Cllr. Stewart Stevenson said, “I am delighted to launch the initiative from Crimsetoppers sponsored by The Safer Surrey Heath Partnership. We are all affected by the consequences of underage drinking. We see the evidence on our streets through vandalism, graffiti and violence and it is up to all of us to take action against it. Not only are those who supply alcohol to under 18s perpetuating the problem of alcohol-fuelled youth disorder, but they are committing an offence and face high fines. It is a matter that we take very seriously and we want to encourage everyone else to do the same. As demonstrated today by the young performers from the Urban Dance Company young people should be encouraged to take up active pursuits such as dance, sports or exercise. If you know who the offenders are or have information about any crime or anti-social behaviour call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Further information on ‘Safer Surrey Heath’ can be accessed on the Surrey Heath web site www.surreyheath.gov.uk - Look under ‘Community’ and then ‘Safer Surrey Heath’. For further information about the campaign please contact Jackie Swaine, Surrey Heath’s Community Safety Officer 01276 707356 or Jane Wright from Crimestoppers 01428 727433.
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From
left to right: Jackie Swaine, Community Safety Officer, Surrey heath
Borough Council; Inspector Mark Adams, Surrey Police; Mayor of Surrey
Heath; Jane Wright, Project Manager, Surrey Crimestoppers and UDC
Juniors. |
UDC
Juniors performing |
Note:
Safer Surrey Heath is the Surrey Heath Crime & Disorder Reduction
Partnership which is a joint venture between Surrey Police, Surrey Heath
Borough Council and Surrey County Council. It also incorporates Surrey
Heath & Woking Primary Care Trust, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
and Surrey Police Authority. The Partnership has a shared responsibility
to implement a strategy to reduce crime and disorder within the Borough
of Surrey Heath.
Crimestoppers is the only charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking
criminals off the streets. Around 20 people are arrested and charged every
day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every
6 days is charged with murder, as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.
Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over 770,000 calls
with useful information, resulting in over 68,000 arrests and charges.
Over £89 million worth of property has been recovered and over £124
million worth of drugs.
For further information
or photographs contact:
Amanda Gow, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Press & Communications Officer
01276 707312
Helen Williamson /Judy Williams, Surrey Police, Press & Publicity
Officers 01483 655785
Gail Knox-Wilson, Surrey Police Authority, Communications & Consultation
Manager 01483 482023
Sarah Aspinall, Surrey County Council, Local Media Adviser 07966
210938
Joanna Pratt, Surrey Fire & Rescue, Publicity Manager 01737 224047
Wendy Lockwood, Surrey Heath & Woking PCT, Head of Communications
01932 358618
Jane Wright, Surrey Crimestoppers, Project Manager 01428 727433
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