Horsham pub sells alcohol to 15-year-old

Officers from West Sussex’s Neighbourhood Licensing Team and Horsham Neighbourhood Policing Team conducted a test purchase operation in Horsham on Monday (September 16).

The operation used intelligence to target premises suspected to be selling alcohol to under 18s.

A total of ten pubs and off licences were checked throughout the town. The volunteers, aged 15 and 16, were able to buy alcohol in the Kings Arms, Bishopric.

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “Sussex Police takes the sale of alcohol to children extremely seriously; not only is it illegal, but it exposes children to harm and can contribute to anti-social behaviour.”

Chief Inspector Howard Hodges, Horsham district policing commander, said: “It is important that people who sell alcohol must do so legally and in a responsible manner. We will, with our partners, continue to test premises where we have intelligence to suggest that under age sales are taking place and we will take enforcement where appropriate.”