TACKLING drunken youths is one of the biggest problems the police face, an inspector has said.
But Insp David Glover said they are winning the battle after seizing hundreds of bottles and cans of alcohol.
And he said his officers are more determined than ever, with the introduction of the Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
There are seven neighbourhood teams covering Kirklees and an additional 300 officers throughout West Yorkshire patrolling the hearts of the communities.
Insp Glover said: “Our chief constable and the Government are driving forward an emphasis that every neighbourhood in the county, and country, should have its own policing team.
“The whole aim of this is to listen to the issues the public tell us about and deal with them.
“In Kirklees, south Huddersfield in particular, we have a problem with anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol sales. We have a very good test purchasing operation across Kirklees.
“Sadly, we have had failures, which to us means that children have been sold alcohol in the first instance. It is an issue we are addressing but it is the people living within the community who have the intelligence we need – they know the issues where they live.”
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged a “two strikes and you’re out” policy against shops, supermarkets and off-licences in a bid to stamp out drink-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour.
Insp Glover welcomed the decision but said police in the borough were already coming down hard on traders.
“What Gordon Brown announced earlier this week isn’t anything new to us,” he said. “I think it is a good move and we are already dealing with off-licences which have sold alcohol to under age people.”
Throughout West Yorkshire, more than 1,600 officers will be working in 47 neighbourhood policing teams. The inspector-led teams are made up of sergeants, constables and police community support officers (PCSOs).
Huddersfield PCSOs will be going into schools in a bid to create a good working relationship with youngsters.
Insp Glover added: “These teams will get to know their areas in depth.
“They will serve that community and see the problems first-hand.
“It’s not just about solving the problems but proactively dealing with the issues that people have as well.”
Hundreds of shoppers met their neighbourhood officers on Wednesday in the town centre.
Clr Tony Woodhead, who is a member of the West Yorkshire Police Authority, said: “In Lindley, where I am a councillor, we have a superb team who are really dedicated to the area.
“The police in our borough have been stretched recently with the homicides and major crimes and they have been very quick at solving those.
“I feel that in having these teams, we will get even better at dealing with neighbourhood crimes.”
