Fake IDs Sold on WhatsApp Fuel Underage Alcohol Sales in Henley
Fake driving licences and IDs are being sold for £80 through a WhatsApp account and used by young people to purchase alcohol in Henley, local police have reported. Police Community Support Officer Oliver Gold told a town council meeting that officers have about nine of these in their office, describing them as convincing-looking IDs.
The illicit ID sales formed part of a broader neighbourhood policing update delivered by PCSO Gold to the town and community committee on Tuesday last week. Alongside fake identification, PCSO Gold told councillors that young people have gotten older people to buy alcohol for them, prompting the neighbourhood policing team to look at things they can do to monitor sales from shops.
Crime Figures and Policing Demands Across Henley
The counterfeit ID crackdown runs parallel to a diverse set of local law enforcement challenges managed by the Henley Neighbourhood Policing Team. Between Sunday, September 20, and Monday, October 19, police recorded about 144 incidents in the town. That total encompassed 11 instances of antisocial behaviour, five assaults with injury, four residential burglaries, and 16 instances of shoplifting.
PCSO Gold stated that these figures demonstrate the diverse demands placed upon the Henley Neighbourhood team. Officers conducted two stop-and-searches in Mill Meadows during the same monthly reporting window to prevent suspected drug activity, issuing a community resolution for drug-related offending.
Town Council Debate Over Police Visibility and Speeding Enforcement
While Deputy Mayor Sarah Miller, who chaired the committee, thanked officers for their work, town councillor Michelle Thomas questioned the profile of policing during the meeting. Cllr Thomas told the committee that she lived and worked in Henley but had not seen police out on the streets for years. PCSO Gold replied that since March, there’s usually been a few of them walking into the town centre on regular occasions. There are five teams to ensure 24/7 cover. Consisting of a single unit, the Henley Neighbourhood Team is estimated to be on shift roughly 40 per cent of the time.
Officers walk beats through the town centre, New Street’s Waitrose car park, Thames Side, Thames Path, Station Road, Hart Street, and the car park on Greys Road. Addressing a separate question from Cllr Thomas regarding the 20mph speed limit in Henley, PCSO Gold explained that there is a traffic division that deals with speed cameras and they have a new team that has signed up to a speed awareness course. Once that’s done, they can look into it more.
Support for Vulnerable Residents and Elderly Social Clubs
Aside from carrying out street patrols and shop checks, personnel have assisted elderly and at-risk citizens while helping individuals experiencing mental health difficulties connect with appropriate services. Town Councillor Gill Dodds, who chairs the 60+ Social Club based at Greys Road car park, praised the report and urged officers to bring vulnerable residents or elderly victims to the club for social support.
When I read about actions taken to help an elderly resident identified as at risk to exploitation and financial abuse, do always take them to the club and introduce them to our managers,
Cllr Dodds said, noting that they have a really good relationship with the police.