Top police endorsement for PASS cards
The Chief Constable of Northampton Police, Adrian Lee, has joined the PASS Board as an observer. Adrian is also the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on Alcohol Licensing and Harm Reduction. Adrian said:
Preventing underage sales is a top priority in reducing alcohol harm. Enormous strides have been made with the police and trading standards working to drive up standards. But there is still more to do. We will only ever completely eliminate underage sales if retailers can have total confidence that any proof of age is valid. I am delighted to be able to provide a police perspective in addressing this very important issue and to be lending my support to what is an important and well-established agency partnership.
CitizenCard Chief Executive Andrew Chevis welcomed the Chief Constable's support for PASS:
CitizenCard's long-running 'No ID, No Sale!' campaign reminds retailers that it is the PASS hologram on a card which means it can be trusted. Almost all retailers accept this message but too many door supervisors continue to cause problems for legitimate cardholders trying to get access to some bars and clubs. All companies that employ door supervisors must be persuaded to accept PASS cards and Adrian Lee's presence on the PASS Board, alongside officials from the Home Office and Trading Standards, should strengthen its resolve to sort this out once and for all.
CitizenCard is the largest issuer of over-18 PASS cards in the UK. More than two million cards have been issued since the scheme was launched in 1999 by the Association of Convenience Stores, Camelot, Co-Operative, Experian, Ladbrokes, National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the Tobacco Manufacturers Association.
