Haliey* sits slumped on the concrete steps in the picturesque grounds of St Philip's Cathedral in the heart of Birmingham's city centre. Tears are streaming down her face and black mascara is smudged around her eyes. Lying on the floor is an innocent-looking bottle of energy drink and a can of fizzy pop. It's only 7pm on a Tuesday evening and Haliey is clearly drunk.
PC Ben Reader reaches over, picks up the bottle and can and smells the contents. "There's definitely alcohol in here," he declares before asking 16-year-old Haliey and her friend how much alcohol they've consumed.
Tearfully, Haliey proceeds to tell PC Reader that she has recently fallen out with her boyfriend and had decided to get drunk to cheer herself up. PC Reader notes down Haliey's details and then tells her he is going to confiscate the alcohol and contact her parents. After failing to reach her dad, he decides to let her male friend take her home. Stumbling to her feet, Haliey leans on her friend's shoulder and goes on her way.
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