The countdown to Christmas has started and as the party season gets into full flow, Cumbria police are urging revellers to keep hold of their senses as they crack down on alcohol and drug-related violence and disorder over the festive period.
Officers are strengthening their police patrols in busy town centres over the coming weeks to focus on defusing incidents before they escalate into violence.
Proactive policing operations will be held across the county to help stop violent incidents from starting and to provide a visible, reassuring presence to law abiding partygoers. Officers will also be working closely with licensed premises to try and prevent people who are already drunk being served more alcohol.
The patrols and targeted operations will focus around ‘Festive Friday’ celebrations –traditionally the Friday before Christmas – which is renowned as one of the busiest nights of the year for pubs and clubs across the county.
Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, who is responsible for Neighbourhood Policing in Cumbria added his support to the campaign by saying:
“Our campaign has been launched to try to send a clear message to partygoers – please have fun and enjoy all your celebrations, but don’t lose control of your senses and end up spending your Christmas in the cells with us."
“Traditionally, pubs and clubs get very busy across the county during the festive season as crowds who don’t go out regularly attend more social events and parties, and drink a lot more alcohol than they would throughout the rest of the year."
“Previous experience has shown us that a minority of people take these celebrations too far and drink more alcohol than they can handle, losing their inhibitions and letting their emotions run high."
“We are asking people to take this into account and take a step back if they feel that a situation is becoming heated, before violence erupts"
“Police officers are trained to diffuse situations and we will be stepping in early to stop incidents escalating. We want people to enjoy a ‘merry’ Christmas, but don’t go too far and end up spending a Christmas behind bars and begin 2011 with a criminal record.”
Barrow’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be using tactics from their successful Operation Siskin, which sees officers working closely with pubs, clubs and bars to tackle excessive alcohol consumption, prevent underage sales and reduce alcohol related offences. To do this they will team up with Trading Standards to carry out test purchases and uncover licensed premises that are failing to check the age of their young customers.
Officers are strengthening their police patrols in busy town centres over the coming weeks to focus on defusing incidents before they escalate into violence.
Proactive policing operations will be held across the county to help stop violent incidents from starting and to provide a visible, reassuring presence to law abiding partygoers. Officers will also be working closely with licensed premises to try and prevent people who are already drunk being served more alcohol.
The patrols and targeted operations will focus around ‘Festive Friday’ celebrations –traditionally the Friday before Christmas – which is renowned as one of the busiest nights of the year for pubs and clubs across the county.
Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, who is responsible for Neighbourhood Policing in Cumbria added his support to the campaign by saying:
“Our campaign has been launched to try to send a clear message to partygoers – please have fun and enjoy all your celebrations, but don’t lose control of your senses and end up spending your Christmas in the cells with us."
“Traditionally, pubs and clubs get very busy across the county during the festive season as crowds who don’t go out regularly attend more social events and parties, and drink a lot more alcohol than they would throughout the rest of the year."
“Previous experience has shown us that a minority of people take these celebrations too far and drink more alcohol than they can handle, losing their inhibitions and letting their emotions run high."
“We are asking people to take this into account and take a step back if they feel that a situation is becoming heated, before violence erupts"
“Police officers are trained to diffuse situations and we will be stepping in early to stop incidents escalating. We want people to enjoy a ‘merry’ Christmas, but don’t go too far and end up spending a Christmas behind bars and begin 2011 with a criminal record.”
Barrow’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be using tactics from their successful Operation Siskin, which sees officers working closely with pubs, clubs and bars to tackle excessive alcohol consumption, prevent underage sales and reduce alcohol related offences. To do this they will team up with Trading Standards to carry out test purchases and uncover licensed premises that are failing to check the age of their young customers.
To support the operations, police officers have been displaying posters around the county to highlight their anti-violence safety messages to highlight the link between drinking alcohol and getting involved in violent incidents in the hope that it will prompt people to drink sensibly and stay safe this Christmas.
Pocket sized top tips will also be handed out by officers on patrols to remind people about how they can stay safe:
• Plan your night out, let someone know where you are going & when you will be home.
• Carry a charged mobile phone & put a trusted taxi number in your contacts.
• Never accept a drink from someone you don’t know or don’t trust.
• Keep your drink with you at all times, if it looks or tastes suspicious don’t drink it.
• Watch out for your friends & make sure they get home safely.
• Don’t walk alone after dark - plan ahead.
• Avoid taking short cuts, keep to well-lit main streets.
• Never accept lifts from strangers or unregistered taxis.
• Drink responsibly; binge drinking makes you more vulnerable.
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