Raid targets teen drinkers

Police raided a Southwell pub that was suspected of serving under-age drinkers.

Fourteen police officers and two civilian licensing officers took part in the raid at The Dumbles, Westhorpe.

Eleven were found that were either under-age and showed signs of having had a drink, or were over-18 but had been buying alcoholic drinks for minors.

Police said suspected fake IDs and what is believed to be cannabis were found.

Nine youngsters were taken to Southwell Police Station and their parents called.

They will be offered the choice of attending an alcohol awareness course or paying an £80 fixed penalty.

Investigations are continuing into the fake identification and cannabis allegations.

The police licensing officer for Newark and Sherwood, Mr Paul Inman said the operation was the culmination of weeks of planning and intelligence-gathering.

He said: “Our intelligence suggested that The Dumbles was being used by under-age drinkers.

“We entered the premises in force and detained 11 people who were under-age.”

Mr Inman said further action would be taken against The Dumbles, which could be a written warning or more conditions being applied to the pub’s licence.

Sergeant Brendon Hunt, of Southwell Police, said: “We have sent the message that there is no safe haven for young people to drink illegally or to excess in Southwell.

“Licensees should also know that this disregard of the law will not be tolerated in Southwell and know also that we will be repeating this operation.”

The landlord of The Dumbles did not want to comment at this stage.