Council worker gets national award for tackling underage drinking in Corby

Craig Spence is senior neighbourhood manager at the council, and this week received a Community Champion award at the Westminster launch of the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) Impact Report 2016.

Chief executive of the national volunteering charity TimeBank Helen Walker said: “Craig has been the co-ordinator of Corby CAP since 2014, engaging effectively with schools and retailers in the area and helping to bring down anti-social behaviour by 27 per cent.

“He has contributed enormously to the success of the CAP, in particular improving relationships between retailers and enforcement services in Corby.”

CAPs bring together retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and other groups to tackle the problem of underage drinking and associated anti-social behaviour.

The report shows that, on average, in CAP areas

alcohol-related youth anti-social behaviour fell by 40 per cent

confiscations of alcohol from under-18s drinking in public fell by 85 per cent

attempted purchase of alcohol by under-18s fell by 75 per cent

attempted “proxy purchase” of alcohol by adults on behalf of children fell “significantly”

Chairman of Community Alcohol Partnerships Derek Lewis said: “Craig has made a tremendous contribution to the success of Corby CAP.

“Local partnerships of communities and retailers working together to provide tailor-made solutions to underage drinking in their areas are a powerful and effective way to protect children and create better and safer neighbourhoods.”