Police to issue UV lights to help tackle fake ID's

'Don’t Fake It' is the clear message police in South Cumbria are issuing to youngsters who carry fake identification.

As part of ongoing Operation Siskin designed to tackle alcohol-related offences in South Cumbria, hi-vis and plain clothed officers took part in dedicated patrols on the evening of Saturday 16th May. During the evening a number of offences were detected including young people attempting to use fake ID to gain entry to pubs and clubs and the sale of alcohol to an underage youth.

Police and local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) are now purchasing a number of UV lights for door and bar staff to use in an attempt to crackdown on the use of fake ID. Action will also be taken against the young person who purchased the alcohol and the member of bar staff who served the minor.

Sergeant Paul Madden who is leading Operation Siskin said: “It has become clear that young people have been buying fake driving licences and passports from the Internet or borrowing ID from friends or older relatives to gain entry to licenced premises.

It is an offence to use fake, fraudulent or borrowed ID and we will take positive action against anyone who tries to use it - which can lead to a criminal conviction.

Youngsters don’t seem to realise that by drinking underage they are putting their health at risk and are jeopardising the jobs of bar staff by producing fake ID that does not belong to them.

We have purchased UV lights that will soon be used by licensed premises to check the legitimacy of the ID they are shown. These lights detect the watermarks in genuine driving licenses which makes it easy to spot the ones that are fake.

My message to youngsters is it’s just not worth it.”

Officers continue to conduct test purchasing attempts as part of Operation Siskin and very recently carried out 12 attempts at off licence premises and local pubs.

Sgt Madden continues: “Test purchasing is an important part of our initiative that ensures that the licensing trade are operating within the law. Unfortunately, in this case the staff in the respective premises were not as vigilant as they should have been – they did not ask for any ID and sold alcohol to our youngsters so were issued a fixed penalty.

Officers and our partners are committed to addressing the issue of underage drinking and alcohol-related offences and our efforts will continue. Success, for me, is when we do a test purchase operation and get no sales at all. This means the message is getting through.”