Silsden Town Council

Sgt Jo Beecroft, from the Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, announced at last week’s town council meeting that the unit had recruited an agent to carry out test purchases in the town to reduce the level of underage drinking.

She said: “If the test purchaser succeeds in buying alcohol then it is the owner of the shop who has committed the offence.

“We carried out a range of test purchases at the Co-op, in Silsden, during Alcohol Awareness Week.

“You will be glad to know that they were asked for ID and did not get served. In fact, none of them got served.”

The sergeant added that a lot of alcohol was confiscated from youths in the town during the special action week and poured out in front of them as a deterrent.

l A youth event launched six months ago to reduce anti-social behaviour on weekend nights in Silsden has been a great success according to Craven neighbourhood police.

The Friday Night Project, at the Elliott Street Youth Centre, is run by the police and integrated youth services, with funding from the town council.

Sgt Jo Beecroft told the council meeting: “Integrated youth services put a disco on in the youth club and 40 people turned up, which is really positive.

“The club has definitely made a major difference for us in terms of policing on a Friday night.

“So in the near future we will be looking to ask for more funding for a second year of the project. It is obviously well attended.”

Craven neighbourhood police pioneered the project with integrated youth services after receiving a high number of calls from residents complaining about youths “hanging around” in Hothfield Street, Barrett Street and Aire View between 6-11pm on weekend evenings.