Almost 100 passports and driving licences seized in underage drinking crackdown

Almost 100 passports, driving licences and citizen cards have been seized as part of a clampdown on underage drinking in Wrexham town centre.

Last month Wrexham Council and North Wales Police announced that security and bar staff at town centre venues would be asking for anyone who appears younger than 18 to show two forms of ID prior to entry/serving.

It came off the back of reports of fake or borrowed ID cards by under 18s attempting to purchase alcohol.

It is a criminal offence to use false or borrowed ID to gain entry to licensed premises or to buy alcohol. The penalties for doing so can lead to a maximum punishment of £5,000 and 10 years imprisonment.

In the last two months alone 11 passports and 73 drivers licences and citizen cards have been retained and forwarded to the Trading Standards section.

These documents are sent back to the issuing agencies informing them that they have been used fraudulently.

This amounts to approximately £3235 that will have to be spent again for new identification as well the owner having to answer some difficult questions.

Roger Mapleson, Trading Standards and Licensing Lead, said, “The message from this is loud and clear, if you are discovered trying to get in to a licensed premises using I.D that belongs to someone else or is counterfeit, it will be retained and you will be turned away.

“Using a false identity document is a serious matter and the cost and inconvenience if you are caught is significant. Just don’t do it.”