WILTSHIRE’S neighbourhood policing teams are cracking down on alcohol-related incidents as part of a national campaign.

Starting on Wednesday and running until tomorrow, the In Focus: Alcohol Harm initiative has seen local officers visit schools and colleges, go to Pubwatch meetings, oversee taxi operations, carry out high visibility patrols and drugs dogs operations and visit licensed premises.

This focus continues on from the road shows last month where partner organisations including Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue and other specialist services have come together to engage with communities and help educate them on the effects of alcohol on individuals, families and communities.

Chief superintendent Paul Mills, head of local policing, said: “People all too easily forget the risks that come with drinking to excess. If you can’t think clearly you make yourself more vulnerable, are more likely to become a victim of crime and are more likely to be injured or involved in violence.

“Nationally, nearly 50 per cent of violent crime is alcohol related. This is not a problem that is going to go away and cannot be ignored. We will continue to work alongside our partners to tackle this issue and educate people on the dangers and effects but everyone has a role to play and people must take personal responsibility for their actions.”

Licensing teams also distributed guidance material in the south of the county on Thursday and are carrying out multi-agency checks of licensed premises this weekend.

Maggie Rae, corporate director at Wiltshire Council and chairman of the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, said: “We want to ensure that our town centres are a safe place for everyone to socialise and drink alcohol responsibly. By tackling this issue together we can achieve this.”