Police launch project to tackle underage drinking in Knaresborough

An initiative to tackle underage drinking and alcohol-related crime has been launched in Knaresborough.

Knaresborough Community Alcohol Partnership – which is made up of representatives of the police, the local authority, schools, businesses and health providers – was established yesterday (September 11).

It followed a survey by North Yorkshire Police in January, which asked residents to relay concerns about underage drinking and the risks that come with alcohol.

The force today said it will use a “mix of tactics” to tackle underage drinking and improve the wellbeing of young people in Knaresborough, including test purchases to prevent alcohol being sold to children.

Intervention work to educate under-18s on the risks of alcohol and underage drinking will also be carried out, the statement added.

PCSO Laura Thompson, who is leading the scheme, said the move was “another step forward” in reducing underage drinking and “tackling the problems it causes in Knaresborough”.

PCSO Thompson added:

The project follows a clampdown on underage drinking in Ripon, which set up its own Community Alcohol Partnership scheme in 2022.

Knaresborough is now the ninth scheme of this nature to launched in York and North Yorkshire within the last three years, the police said. 

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