Cadets able to buy booze and vapes in Three Rivers 'tests'

Today (October 6), Herts Police revealed that "test purchases" had been carried out across the Three Rivers district over two days in September.

Forty-one stores were visited as cadets tried to buy age-restricted items and were able to do so in 27 per cent of the shops. Police were also able to seize items from some stores.

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The test purchases were carried out by Three Rivers Police Cadets in partnership with the Three Rivers Community Safety Unit, Three Rivers Safer Neighbourhood Team, and Three Rivers District Council licensing team.

Sergeant Adam Johnson said: “We are pleased to report that the vast majority of the stores visited passed the test purchase with our cadets unable to purchase any of the items mentioned above.

“The percentage of fails was disappointing, however a training package has been created which will be delivered by community safety unit staff at a training event that store staff have been invited to.”

The training will cover underage sales, anti-social behaviour, and hate crime.

The sergeant added that police will continue to carry out the checks and added “we look forward to engaging with the stores and reducing the number of fails as a result”.