ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson is helping to drive a purge on under-age boozing through Parliament.

She is one of the sponsors of an all-party move to outlaw under-18s consuming alcohol in public.

The private members bill is being moved by Tory MP Bob Spink. It has Home Office backing and is likely to become law.

In order to secure all party support he asked Mrs Anderson, Labour's women's spokeswoman, to join him in sponsoring the bill.

She said: "I am delighted to offer my support.

"At the minute it is an offence for someone under the age of 18 to buy alcohol, but it is not an offence for juveniles to drink alcohol in public places. "This is a loophole in the law which will be closed when this legislation is passed.

"Under age drinking in public places is a major contributory factor in anti-social behaviour and vandalism carried out by young people.

"On top of that there is the intimidation factor when local people feel nervous about walking in certain areas because of the presence of drunken youths.

"The bill will make the streets of Rossendale and Darwen safer while at the same time protecting young people locally."

The proposal, expected to become law in the New Year, will give police the power to confiscate alcohol from under-18s drinking in public, take their names, move them on and arrest them if they obstruct the officers.

Local police chiefs Superintendent Clive Fothergill and Superintendent Eddy Walsh have welcomed the bill as a useful tool in the fight against anti-social behaviour in public places.

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