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Police chief urges alcohol action Police chief urges alcohol action
(20 minutes later)
A police chief has condemned parents for "turning a blind eye" to their children's underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.A police chief has condemned parents for "turning a blind eye" to their children's underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy spoke out after three boys appeared in court charged with the murder of a man on a street in Warrington.Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy spoke out after three boys appeared in court charged with the murder of a man on a street in Warrington.
Mr Fahy called for the legal drinking age to be raised from 18 to 21.Mr Fahy called for the legal drinking age to be raised from 18 to 21.
"Alcohol is too cheap and too readily available and is too strong. Young people cannot handle it," he added."Alcohol is too cheap and too readily available and is too strong. Young people cannot handle it," he added.
'Social responsibility'
He said "a hardcore" of parents "abdicated" their responsibility.He said "a hardcore" of parents "abdicated" their responsibility.
The chief constable said alcohol was fuelling a wave of violence and disorder across the country and that treating the issue of anti-social behaviour by teenagers as a problem for police to solve alone "was naive" .The chief constable said alcohol was fuelling a wave of violence and disorder across the country and that treating the issue of anti-social behaviour by teenagers as a problem for police to solve alone "was naive" .
Peter Fahy said the price of alcohol should be raised
"We are doing everything we can, within our resources and powers, but it is not enough," he said."We are doing everything we can, within our resources and powers, but it is not enough," he said.
Mr Fahy said parents needed to provide an understanding of right and wrong and a "sense of social responsibility".Mr Fahy said parents needed to provide an understanding of right and wrong and a "sense of social responsibility".
Britain should act "as a nation" to beat the "scourge of anti-social behaviour by young people", he added.Britain should act "as a nation" to beat the "scourge of anti-social behaviour by young people", he added.
The chief constable said people such as those who sell alcohol to young people, "those who promote alcohol as glamorous" and "teenagers who ignore the rights of others to live without intimidation or abuse" needed to "rack their conscience" and consider their duty.The chief constable said people such as those who sell alcohol to young people, "those who promote alcohol as glamorous" and "teenagers who ignore the rights of others to live without intimidation or abuse" needed to "rack their conscience" and consider their duty.
Mr Fahy said he wanted police to be given powers to order groups of rowdy young people home and to see an increase in the price of alcohol.Mr Fahy said he wanted police to be given powers to order groups of rowdy young people home and to see an increase in the price of alcohol.
He later told Channel 4 News he "absolutely" believed the UK's legal drinking age should be raised.He later told Channel 4 News he "absolutely" believed the UK's legal drinking age should be raised.
Mr Fahy spoke after the murder of Garry Newlove, 47, who died after approaching a group of youths in Warrington, Cheshire.Mr Fahy spoke after the murder of Garry Newlove, 47, who died after approaching a group of youths in Warrington, Cheshire.
The father-of-three was taken to hospital but died on Sunday afternoon.The father-of-three was taken to hospital but died on Sunday afternoon.
Two 18-year-old youths and a boy aged 16 were arrested on Tuesday. Three boys have already been charged with Mr Newlove's murder.Two 18-year-old youths and a boy aged 16 were arrested on Tuesday. Three boys have already been charged with Mr Newlove's murder.