Six people were arrested in Maidstone for alcohol offences over the weekend.

These included a man who was detained for an assault which took place in the High Street during the early hours of Sunday morning and a woman who was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol in Lower Stone Street.

Arrests for being drunk and disorderly were made in both the High Street and Bank Street.

The arrests were made during a ten day initiative set up to crack down on alcohol related crime and disorder.

It ran from September 19 to September 28 and saw community support officers and special constables working alongside high visibility patrols in town centres across the county.

In Tunbridge Wells fourteen licensed premises received advice from police about the National Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card.

This identification card was introduced in June this year and it is hoped it will replace the variety of different cards previously allowed to bear the PASS hologram.

To ensure businesses were also complying with the Challenge 21 and 25 schemes plain clothes officers made visits to both licenced premises and off-licenses.

Officers also carried out drug swab tests in toilets inside six of the town’s most popular venues.

Some revealed traces of drug use and advice was given to management and staff to deter and detect the use of illegal substances in the future.

Similar work was carried out in Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, with as off-licences, shops and supermarkets were visited.

Chief Insp Dave Pate, district commander for Tunbridge Wells, said: “Much of the work officers have done over the past ten days has been business as usual, resulting in the arrests of those who have consumed too much alcohol and in turn caused crime and disorder in our communities.

“However, a huge part of any alcohol awareness campaign also has to revolve around education and people taking responsibility for their own actions.

“Officers have been particularly focused on ensuring legislation around the sale of alcohol is rigorously enforced and I’m pleased that the vast majority of shop owners and licensed premises holders are happy to work with us to achieve this.”