Two under-18s a week are charged with using fake IDs

[Dave]

http://news.scotsman.com/

Two under-18s a week are charged with using fake IDs

TWO underage drinkers a week are being charged by police trying to use fake IDs to sneak into pubs and clubs.

The youngsters, aged between 14 and 17, have been stopped by doormen while attempting to gain entry at nightspots in Edinburgh and the Lothians and had IDs confiscated.

Most were using passports, driving licences or other identification borrowed from older siblings or friends and faced fines in sheriff court.

A total of 98 were charged under the Identity Cards Act 2006 between July last year and the end of last month, an offence which carries with it a criminal record for over-16s.

Police chiefs today warned that those caught could face prosecution in court, while those planning to travel to the United States could be banned in future because of the ID fraud conviction.

Anyone allowing their passport to be used illegally could find the document confiscated for months until a court hearing, jeopardising plans to travel abroad.

Doormen are operating a "zero tolerance" policy on underage drinkers, seizing the IDs and immediately alerting police.

The Unight scheme, which links every city venue with a 3am licence in intelligence-sharing to keep out troublemakers, is also banning those caught with false ID from their premises after they turn 18 for a period of six months.

Sergeant Mark Gilhooly, from the force's licensing department, said

: "A great deal of awareness has been created among licensed premises. The doormen are very good at their jobs and alert us when a false ID has been used.

"For under-16s, they are dealt with through the Children's Reporter. For those over 16, they can be reported to the procurator fiscal and can be fined.

"It also gives them a criminal record which could affect their lives if they want to travel to the United States, for instance.

"Youngsters drinking underage are putting themselves in danger and this is another tool in the box to help prevent those situations coming about."

During recent visits to schools in the Capital, police said that out of 150 fifth and sixth-year students, around 30 admitted that they had been in a nightclub underage. Police believe the true figure is at least double that.

Bill McGregor, chairman of Unite and general manager of the Lava & Ignite club in Tollcross, said: "We have a very strict door policy where a photographic ID is needed. We have a ultraviolet light to look for holograms in case we suspect it's a fake ID, although that happens rarely.

"The biggest issue is an older brother or sister's ID being used. That can prove difficult because people do change in appearance in just a few years."

Mr McGregor said an average of three to five people a week using false IDs are prevented from entering Lava & Ignite.

He said a number were also facing six-month bans when they turn 18 after being caught, while anyone giving ID to someone who was caught is also banned.

[littlewoman]

Interesting to see that the Scottish authorities are taking this seriously whilst south of the border the police don't seem at all interested.

[lincsdoorman]

Interesting to see that the Scottish authorities are taking this seriously whilst south of the border the police don't seem at all interested.

Maybe our northern leader should return home and catch up with the latest news and hopefully stay there.
Good to see police taking action though.

[Mojo]

At least someone, somewhere takes it serious
If only they dealt with it like this south of the border!

[Boz]

If you were to attend Pubwatch type meetings personally on a regular basis then you too could get the police to act as they will eventually get fed up of you moaning....especially when brewery reps, councillors & the press etc are there.

[littlewoman]

At our pubwatch meetings its only the police and licensees that are allowed to attend, doorstaff would only be allowed to go if the licensee sent them as a representative. I did volunteer to go to our local ones as our manager wasn't going but he refused to accept that. So I have tried!
It might also be noted that most venues in this area don't even ask for ID and don't really care so they're unlikely to support any action against false ID.

[dave_hedgehog]

It depends where you work, I did some of the first prosecutions and youth repremands under the identity card act.
However most of the youths I dealt with were otherwise good kids and did have a record for other types of crime I doubted the public interest in some of my cases.
The bosses and home office loved it however, it's a recordable offence so goes on crime stats as a detected crime.