POLICE and youth workers have teamed up to tackle the problem of teenagers drinking in streets and parks. Operation Alcopop started at the beginning of August and will run until school restarts in September. The aim for police is to target areas where you

POLICE and youth workers have teamed up to tackle the problem of teenagers drinking in streets and parks.

Operation Alcopop started at the beginning of August and will run until school restarts in September.

The aim for police is to target areas where young people are hanging around drinking and then take their alcohol from them.

Youth workers from Subwize, a council-run organisation, then come and speak to the teenagers about the dangers of binge drinking and advise them about activities in the neighbourhood.

Sergeant Chris Hobro, leading the operation, says that often youngsters go to parks or waste ground to drink and become so intoxicated that they have to taken home by police.

"We want our young people to be safe. The last thing we want is to see a youngster hospitalised because they are so drunk they don't know what they're doing. Drunken teenagers are extremely vulnerable, especially if they walk home alone."

He added: "This is a response to concerns raised by the community.

"Drinking often leads to anti-social behaviour and can be intimidating for residents."

During Operation Alcopop in Barking Town Centre on Thursday August 6 officers took alcohol away from 10 people, arrested one man for being drunk and disorderly and fined another drinker.

They also stopped 19 people and asked them to account for themselves.