A licensed premise in Yateley has failed a test purchase operation.

Officers from the North and East Operational Command Unit Safer Streets team carried out the operation in the Hart district on Thursday, June 18. Off licence premises were visited in Fleet, Church Crookham, Blackwater, Yateley and Hook.

A 16-year-old girl was used to attempt to buy alcohol at nine stores in total.

All but one of the stores asked the girl for identification. However she was not asked to prove her age at Costcutters in Tudor Drive, Yateley and was subsequently sold alcohol.

As a result the member of staff who sold the alcohol was issued with a £80 fixed penalty notice and the designated premises supervisor has been interviewed by police.

PC Sebastian Pearce, of the North and East OCU Safer Streets team, said: "Although we are pleased that eight out of nine premises passed the test purchase operation it is disappointing that one premise failed.

"The Safer Streets Team will be carrying out operations similar to this one throughout the summer to combat anti-social behaviour in our communities.

"Retailers must always check identification before selling alcohol. If there is any doubt they should follow the ‘Challenge 21' initiative and ask anyone who looks under 21 to provide photo ID to prove they are at least 18 years old."