PLANS to cut the number of checks on alcohol sales to under 18s could lead to more drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour, it was claimed this week.

Fewer decoy operations with under-age children being sent in to try to buy booze from pubs and clubs and shops will be run by Trading Standards from next April.

Somerset County Council’s Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday) voted to trim the operation “to reflect a 20% reduction in resources available within the retail team and a reduction in Police Community Support Officer support”.

A report to the meeting said the key risk of the move would be more illegal alcohol sales.

It said: “The largest risk lies with the sale of alcohol to young people and increased sales could result in more anti-social behaviour and accidents involving under 18s.”

It added that the council could target problem traders by monitoring police intelligence reports.

Opposition councillors said the cutback was further proof the Conservative-led administration planned to save £129,000 by cutting the number of PCSOs it funds.

Cllr Jill Shortland (LibDem) said: “There will be a significant risk to young people and a large cost to the health service.”

Cllr William Wallace (Con) said Trading Standards had lost one of its two PCSOs and two retail officers due to a recruitment freeze.

He added: “We fund 17 PCSOs out of 381 in Somerset and have been discussing the possibility of reducing PCSO funding by four or five officers, but nothing has yet been decided.”

*THE row about the possible decrease in PCSOs in Somerset hit the House of Commons on Tuesday night in a debate initiated by Taunton’s LibDem MP Jeremy Browne.

David Hanson, Government Minister for policing, crime and counter-terrorism, said he would be “disappointed” if the county cut £129,000 from its PCSO budget.

Mr Hanson said the officers were important “in helping to drive down crime and, ultimately, reduce the burden on ratepayers as a consequence”.

During his opening speech, Mr Browne slammed County Hall’s “secret £129,000 budget cut” as “shocking” and criticised the authority’s “lack of consultation”.

He is running an on-line campaign against the cuts and has so far collected the support of almost 1,000 people.

Fellow Somerset LibDem MPs David Laws (Yeovil) and David Heath (Somerton and Frome) backed Mr Browne’s stance.

Locally, county councillor and Taunton Deane Council leader Ross Henley (LibDem) said the decoy test purchase scheme was being cut by 20%.

He added: “It’s a disgrace that the Tory cuts to PCSO funding will mean there will be a reduction in visits and spot purchasing in the campaign against under age sales.”