A CRACKDOWN on under-age drinkers in parts of Gillingham has been launched by neighbourhood police.

Officers are tackling the problem of young drinkers in the Rainham, Watling and Gillingham South wards.

They will be distributing posters to off-licences in the areas warning people it is an offence to purchase alcohol for under 18s.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Hayley Aldridge, Sean Smith and Martin Stevens (corr) have already confiscated booze from teenagers, but they are now upping their efforts by working in partnership with traders.

The neighbourhood officers are also investigating the possibility of launching a BottleWatch scheme in the same areas.

BottleWatch will be a voluntary bottle-marking initiative designed to identify where underage drinkers are purchasing their booze.

Shop owners will receive an individually numbered stamp to mark bottles and an indelible marker pen to achieve the same on cans.

The concept has been working well in South Nottinghamshire when a similar trial was run by officers there.

PCSO Aldridge said: “We know alcohol is a trigger for anti-social behaviour and we are keen to make it as hard as possible for under-age people to get hold of booze.

“The majority of retailers are responsible and will only sell to adults.

“This scheme will allow us to identify those who are purchasing alcohol for teenagers and take appropriate action.”