Drink seized from teens in Culmore

PSNI officers displayed the drink- which included beer, cider and even 40% Scotch whiskey- following the operation on Sunday.

Police said they were alerted by residents to youths drinking at Culmore Point.

Sinn Féin Councillor Tony Hassan welcomed the news that patrols by the PSNI local policing team and a neighbourhood policing team located the youths and seized the drink.

Colr. Hassan said: “I welcome the policing operations at the weekend to curb underage drinking in the Culmore area.

“There is no one single solution to the issue of underage drinking across all districts of our city but we need to come at the problem in a variety of ways. On this occasion it was the intervention of the local policing team and a neighbourhood policing team.

“It also means looking at how people purchase alcohol; looking at how alcohol is sold and marketed; and it means supporting vital community based initiatives that provide education, advice, counselling and intervention.”

SDLP Councillor Angela Dobbins also welcomed the PSNI intervention a, which she said followed a rise in antisocial behaviour in the area.

“I am pleased that the PSNI have decided to increase their patrols in Culmore,” she said. “ There has been a spate of car theft in the vicinity and I have been inundated with calls regarding cars racing in the early hours and more concerning the volume of youth that are gathering causing a nuisance.

“Until now, there has been no alcohol involved but this coupled with the fact that those concerned are under aged is very worrying.

“I am begging parents to try harder to know the whereabouts of your children and what they are doing, for everyone’s benefit.”