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Police chief urges alcohol action Police chief urges alcohol action
(about 2 hours 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''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 added that he would like to reverse the current situation whereby public drinking was legal unless councils voted to ban it in specific areas.
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 said: "I would like to see the emphasis change the other way, where we say drinking in public is not permitted apart from those areas where a local community, local authorities say yes."
He later told Channel 4 News he "absolutely" believed the UK's legal drinking age should be raised. He 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 problem was not with extended pub licensing hours, he added, but with shops and supermarkets which sold alcohol to underage youths who went on to congregate outdoors in groups.
Mr Fahy called for police to be given powers to order groups of rowdy young people home and to see an increase in the price of alcohol.
He told the BBC's Today programme that raising the age limit to 21 would send "a clear message about the dangers" of drinking.
Home Office minister Meg Hillier dismissed the idea of raising the drinking age.
She said: "People are getting hold of alcohol under 18. If we raise the age to 21 it's not going to stop people managing to get hold of alcohol.
"In the end, the buck will stop with parents."
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.