Members of the Grey-Bruce Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning all parents and caregivers of the inherent dangers of attending or hosting after-prom or grad parties
Police officers warn that when alcohol or drugs are involved, it's quite possible the party may get out of control. And that could lead to situations where teens and young adults expose themselves to unnecessary risks, both legal and health-related.
Youth who drink alcohol are at a higher risk of harm compared to adults due to their inexperience and lower tolerance. And young people under the influence of alcohol or drugs could make poor decisions lead to dangerous situations that can cause serious injury and death.
Police are often called to investigate criminal reports of assault, drug and alcohol offences, sexual assaults, thefts, mischief and other related crimes stemming from these types of parties.
Plus property owners can and have been held civilly responsible for injuries sustained to persons on their property.
Police want to make it very clear that unsupervised after-prom parties and "field parties" are unsafe environments for anyone.
Police are encouraging parents and caregivers to speak with young people about the associated dangers of attending such events and find alternative activities for them to partake in.
For those who choose to attend or host one of these parties - they should be prepared for an increase in police presence as officers will be aggressively enforcing the law to ensure our youth enjoy these gatherings in a safe and responsible manner.
Everyone has a part to play in community safety and it is the hope of the OPP that anyone with information on suspected field parties or unsupervised after-prom parties will contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, their local police, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Information and tips on how to host a safe grad party can be found at https://madd.ca/pages/programs/youth-services/school-programs/a-night-to-remember/
