OPERATION Summer Nights has been hailed a huge success after more than 210 litres of alcohol were seized from under-age and nuisance drinkers.
The initiative to put a stop to anti-social behaviour throughout Hyndburn, as well as the whole county, began in June and, just two months on, residents have seen a considerable reduction in alcohol- related trouble.
The team of community beat managers and police community support officers conducting the crackdown, led by Sergeant Bob Eaton, are pleased with the results so far.
PCSO Matt Thornton said: "We are targeting all areas of Hyndburn, with Oswald-twistle being just one of our hot-spots, and the feedback from the community so far has been very positive.
"We monitor all the different wards and if we see people drinking in alcohol-free zones, or anybody drinking underage, we seize the alcohol immediately.
"Our aim is to seize it before people get drunk, to stop trouble starting up in the first place. We are also engaging with young people and letting them know what we expect of them, so this is not just uniformed policing."
Cans of lager, bottles of cider, alcopops and cheap wine are just some of the alcohol confiscated.
If the booze is already open when the police arrive, it is simply poured away at the scene, but the un-opened liquor is taken back to the police station where it is disposed of.
Councillor Graham Jones said: "This legislation is some of the best that any Home Secretary has put forward.
"In summer 2003 we were getting up to 120 complaints a month about the nuisance behaviour in my Peel ward, and this summer we are already down to single figures. I think there has been a 70 to 90 per cent reduction in complaints.
"The fixed penalty notices are also working well as kids would rather get a clip round the ear than a £40 or £80 fine.
"All the hard work is really paying off as the troublesome youths are now more aware that other people think they are wasting their lives.
"We are now just down to the hard-core bunch, who have been isolated through this positive initiative."
Operation Summer Nights has the support of Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Lancashire Ambulance Service and Lancashire's Youth Offending Team, and will finish in September.
