Crackdown on school after-parties, cops warn

Authorities are warning of a drive to clamp down on after-parties as Bay schools approach the December holiday.

Police say there is a surge in crime linked to the parties, with criminals targeting drunken revellers.

They have warned that joint law enforcement clampdown operations are planned and involve a series of municipal law enforcement bodies.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said with schools closing next week, they are expecting a surge in “pens-down parties!” across the Bay.

Beetge said the annual events saw large numbers, mostly teenagers, gathering in streets close to taverns and entertainment areas and consuming alcohol.

Over the past two weeks, police have conducted about 30 compliance inspections on liquor sales outlets, with more lined up in the coming weeks.

“One of the major issues is that these types of parties are completely unsupervised and at the end of the day contribute to a spike in crime in the areas where they are held.

“Criminals are aware several young people are in one location and take advantage of this, it is a  fact and we see it each year,” he said.

“Many of the youngsters attending these parties are under age and become unable to control their actions and maintain an alert mental capacity and are easily influenced.

, The situation is worsened where other adults are present and criminal elements take advantage of these severely intoxicated youths.

“In previous years, we noticed an increase in rape and assault cases opened as a result of these parties.”

Beetge said that due to the sporadic nature of these parties, they were difficult to police.

“During inspections and raids, the outlet owners are warned that failure to comply or sell alcohol to under-aged people is illegal and will result in their trading licences being assessed and possibly revoked.

“If we find these parties, they will be shut down and those responsible for providing the alcohol to the under-age youth will be arrested,” he said.