CLEVELAND Police are launching an operation to rid a town centre of a growing number of beggars.

Police said a hard core of up to a dozen beggars were preying on people in Stockton High Street to get money to feed their drug habits.

Operation Oliver, launched this week, will use closed-circuit television, undercover officers, and high-profile patrols to combat the problem.

Inspector Mick Walker said beggars were hassling people outside banks and the post office, and outside and inside shopping centres.

"They deliberately target the elderly and young, vulnerable members of society who are intimidated by their presence and feel they must give something," he said.

"The people responsible are all male and in their late teens to early 20s. For them, it is an easy way of funding a drugs habit, but we are not going to tolerate such behaviour."

Insp Walker urged people not to give money to beggars because it encouraged them to beg more and do it more often.

"If people are approached they should report these beggars to the police," he said.

"Our aim is to rid Stockton town centre of these people. They are not destitute. In the main, they are simply looking for easy pickings to help fund a drugs need.

"No one should have to suffer intimidation in the street."