Licensing team conduct operation at hotels in Gloucester

Officers from the force's Licensing Team took part in a test purchase operation in Gloucester where a teenage girl attempted to check into a hotel whilst in the company of an older man.

The operation was conducted alongside the Special Constabulary on Tuesday evening (14 April).

It involved a teenage girl from the Police Cadets who attempted to book a hotel room whilst in the company of an older plain clothed male police officer to see if the establishments were being responsible and following safeguarding guidelines.

The pair entered the venues that were being tested accompanied by officers in plain clothes, who observed their attempt to book a hotel room.

As part of the operation police visited six hotels across Gloucester. Five of the hotels declined to let the teen and older man book a hotel room however unfortunately one hotel failed by telling the cadet that rooms were available and provided her with the paperwork to book the room.

The hotel that failed didn’t ask any questions about the girl and man being together and were happy to allow them to book a room despite having previously received training by police and educational materials highlighting the risks of child sexual exploitation.

Completing the test purchases allowed officers to ensure that licensed premises are meeting their objective under the Licensing Act to ‘prevent children coming to harm’ and enforce any breaches through education, letters or warnings, tickets or taking the premise to review in certain circumstances.

PC Wintle from the Licensing Team said: "We regularly carry out joint operations with our partner agencies to ensure licensed premises are operating responsibly.

"It's disappointing that one hotel failed to uphold their legal obligations, and we will be following up with management and conducting further checks in due course."