Alcoblow Wands come to Wealden

8 March 2010, 14:11 | Updated: 9 March 2010, 12:36

The ‘Alcoblow’ wand is a portable, hand-held device which can detect alcohol by sucking air from a bottle or someone's breath.

Young people sometimes mix alcohol and put it in soft drinks bottles but now they can no longer hide it from the police. If they are under 18 officers will confiscate the alcohol, pour it away and parents, carers will be informed.

Officers will use the hand held device, which can detect alcohol on a person's breath, in a drive to reduce underage drinking and anti-social behaviour in our towns and villages.

Cllr Ron Cussons, chair of Safer Wealden Partnership said: “Through the Safer Wealden Partnership, we will continue to work closely with the Police to use all our powers to prevent under age drinking in the district and we welcome this latest initiative. The partnership has a responsibility to deter and help reduce this type of offending."

CI Julia Pope, District Commander said: “Thanks to the funding from Safer Wealden Partnership, the wands are great news for the district. We will continue to invest resources in effective targeted enforcement, with the “alcoblow’ wand being a resource, young people will stop and think before they drink. Wealden is a safe district, to live, work and visit on the whole and most young people are decent, law-abiding citizens.”

Hear our interview with Sgt Howard Nevill