POLICE have relaunched a successful campaign in a bid to crack down on underage drinking that is putting vulnerable young people at risk.

Operation Aries was launched by Durham Police in 2014 to try and put a stop to young people under the age of 18 drinking alcohol.

After successful pilot schemes in Stanley and Peterlee, the campaign has been rolled out in Bishop Auckland this week, where it is hoped it will produce similar results.

Sergeant Mick Urwin, of the police’s harm reduction unit, said Operation Aries aims to engage with, and educate, the community about the dangers young people face when they consume alcohol.

He said: “We know that young people have been drinking down by the river and that has caused particular concern.

“Nobody knows that they are there and if there is an incident they’re in a secluded area that is difficult to get to.

“Underage drinking also makes them vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

“Operation Aries is a multi-agency operation that brings together the police, schools and retailers to work together to put a stop to underage drinking and keep our young people safe.

Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) is also supporting the campaign and will be working alongside the police to focus on a range of issues, including education, enforcement, public perception, communication, diversionary activity and evaluation.

Kate Winstanley, director of CAP said: “Figures show that nationally the number of 11 to 15-year-olds drinking alcohol is decreasing which is great, but they also show that the children who are drinking alcohol are drinking more of it.

“Children who drink alcohol are four times more likely to be alcohol dependant later in life.”

Sgt Urwin added: “We know that around 80 per cent of alcohol that children have has come from home.

“A major focus for us will be proxy purchases where parents, older siblings or friends are buying alcohol to give to the children.

“It is starting to affect the community and is putting kids in danger so we need to make sure that children and parents realise just how dangerous it is.

“There have been instances where officers have taken children home and they were nowhere near where their parents thought they were.

“Thankfully most children don’t drink alcohol, it’s a small minority that do.”

For more information about the project visit: durham-pcc.gov.uk