Several Lancashire Police Cadets volunteered to spend their evening assisting South Ribble Borough Council to test local licensed premises on the effectiveness of their policies and procedures relating to gaming machines and under 18s.
The Gambling Commission have previously reported that in 20 out of 40 tests of adult gaming centres and betting shops in England and Wales, a supervised test purchaser under the age of 18 was allowed to play on a gaming machine and leave the premises without being challenged to prove their age.
In pairs Lancashire Police Cadets entered 7 licensed premises in the South Ribble area and attempted to use the gaming machines. They were challenged at 4 premises but the other 3 allowed them to play and therefore committed offences. The 3 sites which committed the offences will now face a review of their licence and can be referred to the Gambling Commission for further action.
South Ribble Borough Council and the Gambling Commission have passed on their thanks for them offering their time and assisting in the test purchasing operation with Lancashire Police.
To find out more about gambling and test purchasing or for help and information take a look at the Gambling Commission here.