NEIGHBOURHOOD policing officers in Great Notley have confiscated cans of beer and bottles of alcopops from young people under the age of 18.

NEIGHBOURHOOD policing officers in Great Notley have confiscated cans of beer and bottles of alcopops from young people under the age of 18.

Police community support officers (PCSOs) Gareth Jones and James Graham, together with neighbourhood constables Pcs Rachel West and Carly Stokes, are continuing to run regular high visibility patrols in the Great Notley Country Park.

There have been several recent incidents of arson in the park, and the neighbourhood officers are determined to clamp down on nuisance behaviour and catch those responsible for starting fires.

Pc Stokes said: “It is a privilege to have an area of woodland like the Great Notley Country Park for our community to enjoy, and I would urge everyone to use it sensibly and responsibly.

“We are actively investigating the recent arsons, which were reckless and placed everyone, including those starting the fires, at danger.

“As neighbourhood officers patrol the area, we will also always confiscate any alcohol we find in the possession of people who are underage.”

The neighbourhood policing team was out in force on Friday July 23 and stopped several young people in possession of cans and bottles of lager and two bottles of spirit-based alcopops. The alcohol was confiscated by officers and will be destroyed.

Pc Stokes adds: “We work closely with Trading Standards officers to ensure that local retailers do not sell alcohol either directly to young people or to adults purchasing the alcohol on behalf of the youngsters.

“We suspect that some of the alcohol that we’ve confiscated has actually come from the family home, probably from parents turning a blind eye to their children taking it.

“Essex Police strongly encourages parents to step up to their responsibilities and ensure their children are not illegally drinking alcohol.”