HAMPSHIRE Police has cracked down on seven shops for selling alcohol to children.

Test purchase operations were conducted at 31 premises using children aged 16 and 17 years old.

Seven premises in Portsmouth failed and are listed as follows:

  • New Kwiki Mart, Elm Grove,
  • New Kwiki Mart, Albert Road,
  • Tesco Metro, Albert Road,
  • Nisa, Clarendon Road,
  • Nisa, Fratton Road,
  • Maya store, Fratton Road,
  • Red Kwiki Mart, Fratton Road.

All staff who served the alchol were issued with a £90 fixed penalty notice and Portsmouth District licensing team and Trading Standards will now work with the premises to improve their training and procedures.

Sgt Stuart Snow said: “The aim of test purchase operations is to identify those premises which serve alcohol to children and then deal effectively with the failing stores through engagement and education. Alcohol in the hands of children can lead to anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity.

“We will continue to conduct test purchase operations to ensure that off-licenses comply with the law.”