THE traditional summer mix of sun and alcohol can be a volatile combination.

And with the football World Cup just a week away, Pembrokeshire police are taking part in Operation AMEC - the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign.

And last Friday, the Western Telegraph's Lee Day joined the operation.

Acting chief inspector, Les Clark, explained: "I will be taking officers off their day jobs to target drink related anti-social behaviour - assaults, drunk and disorderly, urinating in the street, the sort of behaviour that impacts on people's lives."

Throughout the operation police, licensing officials and fire officers will check premises for alcohol supply and safety issues. Chief Inspector Clark added: "The idea is not to spoil people's fun but we have got to get these places running safely."

The evening began with Sergeant Andrew Miles, a traffic officer, calling into Haverfordwest town centre.

There, police community support officers (PCSOs) Jude Parr and Dave Kenny were on duty. They had travelled in on buses with youngsters attending an under 18 event at a nightclub. The PCSOs have the power to confiscate drink and cigarettes from youngsters.

PCSO Kenny said: "We will be wandering around the town and making sure people get home safely. Or if people are in a real state, the ambulance and parents will be called. We will remain with them until the parents arrive. The last thing you want is them walking around on their own." The PCSOs provide an extra presence and their hard work is clearly valued by regular officers.

Next stop was a rainy Fishguard, where operation AMEC was to focus for the evening.

Local inspector Dave Sweet's regular beat officers had been reinforced by two constables from Pembroke Dock, a special constable and dog handling unit. Sergeant Miles began by visiting the pubs around Fishguard square, explaining the background of the operation to licensees.

Later, a pub was targeted for a sweep by officers and the drugs dog. Inspector Sweet said: "Officers were placed on each entrance of the pub and others went through the premises checking the ages of those drinking alcohol.

"The drugs dog has indicated that two people may have had illegal substances on them, but after a search nothing was found. The dog is so sensitive that it is likely that the men had previously had drugs on them."

But with the pubs quiet and the rain hammering down, it was to be an uneventful evening.

Inspector Sweet said: "The licensees have self-enforced tonight, they've done a good job. That's they way we want it to be."