Crackdown on trouble launched

Wyre Forest people are being urged drink responsibly and walk away from any trouble at Christmas and New Year celebrations.

West Mercia Police has launched Operation Christmas Presence, which aims to drive down alcohol related crime. Chief Inspector Paul Moxley said: "We want everyone to be able to enjoy the festive season with their family and friends and feel safe when they go out for the evening.

"Our aim is to ensure this happens and at the same time reduce the number of alcohol related incidents. Operation Christmas Presence targets people who drink too much and then cause problems for themselves and others.

Large quantities of alcohol can completely alter the way a person acts and lead to people behaving in an uncharacteristic way. They may start to behave in an anti-social manner, start a fight, or put themselves in a vulnerable position that other people could take advantage of."

Now in its fourth year the operation aims to make the season safer for everyone by clamping down on crimes such as drink driving, drink fuelled-violence and drink spiking. In a bid to drive home these messages the force has distributed 3,000 posters and 120,000 drinks mats to licensed premises. Alcohol plays a major part in nearly a third of all violent incidents against people, around one in five sexual offences and more than three-quarters of all domestic abuse offences.

Last December 222 people were arrested for drink driving in West Mercia. During the year one in 10 collisions across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire and result in death and serious injury are caused by drink driving. The operation has been launched with West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Worcester Taxi Drivers Association.