September 30, 2014 2.09 pm This story is over 114 months old

Lincoln shops sell alcohol and tobacco to underage volunteers in sting operation

Caught out: Lincoln off-license shops have been given warnings after they failed police test purchase operations with the help of two 15-year-old-volunteers.
Photo: The Lincolnite

Lincoln off-license shops have been given warnings after they failed police test purchase operations with the help of two 15-year-old-volunteers.

On Saturday, September 27, officers from Lincolnshire Police Alcohol Licensing Department and Trading Standards, conducted test purchase operations at stores in Lincoln and Skegness targeting underage sales of alcohol and tobacco.

All Lincoln shops that were targeted due to intelligence made illegal sales to the 15-year-olds, while all others refused dale after requesting ID.

The results were:

  • Newport News, 49 Newport, Lincoln – sale of alcohol and tobacco to 15 year old volunteer
  • Supasave, 18 Corporation Street, Lincoln – sale of alcohol and tobacco to 15 year old volunteer
  • Premier Store, Holme Drive, Sudbrooke – sale refused – ID requested
  • Dee’s Convenience Store, 136 Church Road North, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested
  • Apex Store, Wainfleet Road, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested
  • Jay Chand Newsagents, Drummond Road, Skegness – sale refused – Age requested followed by ID requested
  • Apex Store, Roman Bank, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested

Licensing Sergeant Kim Enderby said: “These test purchase operations are all intelligence led, involving premises where we have received information that the staff are selling age-restricted products to underage people.

“On the receipt of such information, the people running the shops, pubs, bars or clubs are sent letters advising them that this information has been received to enable them to check their staff and ensure they are not selling or to stop them selling.

“They are advised that the premises will be tested and invited to discuss any concerns or issues they may have identified following our initial warning communication.

“Following a sale to our volunteers, the premises operators are informed and invited to an informal meeting to explain our procedures, identify any potential weaknesses in their operation which may need addressing and to warn them of the serious potential consequences if they are found to be selling a second time.

“We make serious efforts to warn, educate and advise suspect premises to deal with this issue of underage sales and the impact it has upon anti social and criminal behaviour in local communities and the harmful effects on the health of young people.”

Anyone with information on known underage sales of tobacco or alcohol should contact Lincolnshire Police directly on 101 or anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.