Police continued their crackdown on licensed premises that serve people underage, with a test purchasing operation in Oxford last week.

Officers from the East Oxford neighbourhood team joined with licensing officers, to carry out the operation on five licensed premises on Tuesday last week.

All five of the premises tested in the operation failed. Those premises were Iffley News in Iffley Road, R & H News in St Clements, The Oxford Off-Licence in St Clements, Regency Stores in Magdalen Road and the Magdalen Stores in Magdalen Road.

Police said as a result, the two licensees at The Oxford Off-Licence and Magdalen Stores will face prosecution as it was the designated premises supervisor who performed the sales.

Staff members at the other three stores were given £80 fixed penalty notices.

Alex Bloomfield, licensing officer for Thames Valley Police, said: “This operation came about as a result of some concerns that had been raised by the local community.

“We hope this reassures the community that we will listen to these concerns and take the appropriate action to deal with premises that are selling alcohol to those under-18.

“The sale of alcohol to those under-18 is an offence and the alcohol sold can fuel public order and anti-social offences that can impact on neighbourhoods.”

Anyone with information about licensed premises selling alcohol to those under-18 should contact the licensing team via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.