This is Surrey --A CAMPAIGN targeted at tackling excessive drinking and alcohol-related crime has been launched by Surrey Police.
The week-long initiative, which started yesterday, aims to illustrate the problems faced by officers and the public as a direct result of drunkenness, which can lead to antisocial behaviour and crime.
Officers from safer neighbourhood teams including Mole Valley will target hot spots outside pubs and clubs where they will carry out licence and ID checks as well as drug swabbing.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Neighbourhood Superintendent Duncan Greenhalgh said: "We are going to hit the streets and show the people of Surrey that we mean business.
"It's time for everyone to wise up and take responsibility for their own actions and not use alcohol to such an extent that they put themselves and others at risk of harm. Our actions this week are aimed at educating the public about the harm caused by drinking and the amount of resource and time it takes Surrey Police to police.
"There is a small number of people who ruin it for others and that will not be tolerated.
"We're not here to clean you up and drop you home or mediate drunken arguments."
Surrey has 3,498 licensed premises, of which 764 are pubs, and there are 24 nightclubs with 1070 off -licences and 84 fast food venues.
Nearly 50 per cent of all violent crime is alcohol related and Chief Constable Adrian Lee said drink-fuelled antisocial behaviour in pubs, clubs and on the streets is "just part of the problem".
"Police all too often have to care for people who have clearly failed to take care of themselves," he added.
"They need to grow up and take responsibility.
"Drinking so much that you can't think clearly makes you vulnerable and more likely to become a victim of crime, be injured or be involved in violence.
"The police service is realistic that it has to make budget reductions but the impact of excessive drinking is an example of the real operational challenges we face.
"We need to put officers on the streets to keep people safe and prevent crimes from occurring, as well as responding when they do.
"But the result of that decision is that these are police officers who are not doing all the other things that the Government and public want them to prioritise."
The activity will similarly be targeting the start of the new term for universities and colleges, with police highlighting advice to students on how to stay safe.
Surrey Police will be tweeting throughout the week about how the activities are progressing. Follow them on Twitter at @SurreyPolice. Reported by This is 21 hours ago.