This operation named “Operation Hollywood” continued Blackburn Police and Trading Standards Service intelligence led theme in targeting specific premises but varied from previous enforcement in that they adopted different tactics using sophisticated covert equipment when deploying the Test Purchases.
Two females (aged 14 and 15 years old) were fitted with both sound and vision recording equipment by the Safer Travel Unit and monitored from our vehicle positioned nearby to test whether they would be served alcohol.
This is the first time we have used this equipment on Test Purchase operations.
On the night 6 premises were visited across Blackburn of which 2 failed.
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One member of staff served bottle of Carbon White Cider – she was interviewed and made full admission and has opted to pay for an Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing Course.
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In another part of town a member of staff sold two bottles of alcohol to the testers – this member of staff will attend Blackburn Police Office next week for a Voluntary Interview.
Operations like this clearly demonstrate to licensees across the county that sales of alcohol to underage people is not acceptable.
