THE number of teenagers caught drinking illegally on the streets has soared in the past year after efforts by police and alcohol workers to tackle the problem.

Police in County Durham have seized alcohol from nearly 1,000 people since July last year, most of them under-18s, as part of a new, co-ordinated approach with council street wardens and community support officers, who search for underage drinkers.

Under a three-strikes rule, teenagers caught with alcohol are given the chance to work with support staff from County Durham’s For Real programme or face court.

Figures collected by PC Mick Urwin, alcohol harm reduction officer for Durham Police, show that most of the young people picked up by police are aged 14 to 16, with an even spread of boys and girls.

He said the most worrying trend was that 75 per cent of the teenagers caught with alcohol said it was bought for them by a parent, friend or older family member.

He said: “The project is not about getting kids before the courts and convicted. We know that teenagers will drink – it is about getting out there and teaching them about the consequences. If kids are found with booze, officers confiscate the drink, they are taken home and their parents are spoken to and they are automatically referred to For Real. We have a busy time now because of half-term and the six weeks holidays coming up.”

Kirstie Collins, from For Real, said the intervention programme was proving a success, with few repeat offenders.

She said: “It seems that just sitting the kids down and bringing the risks and consequences of drinking to their attention is enough to open their eyes.

“They sometimes see drinking as normal behaviour, but the fact that they have been picked up by the police and then end up sitting down with a support worker seems to have an impact on them.”

The programme is in operation across County Durham.

In Darlington, the borough council’s drug and alcohol team focuses on long-term drink and drug users rather than intervention programmes.

A spokeswoman said a programme was already in action in the town in conjunction with police, where young people are taken home and they and their parents are given advice if they are caught with alcohol.