A TOP police officer has called for the legal drinking age to be raised to 21.

Northumbria Police chief constable Michael Craik said his officers were becoming 'overwhelmed' by drink-fuelled rapes and assaults.

He told councillors in Newcastle drink must be put 'out of reach' and said he'd support a ban on drinking in clubs and bars for anyone aged younger than 21.

Mr Craik said: "Every act of violence, every violent offence, every rape we come across is increasingly caused by drinking.

"It is a serious problem that we have tolerated for too long.

"Something has to change."

City leaders met Mr Craik to debate radical step of asking the Government to up the drinking age from 18 to 21 as a solution to the city's alcohol troubles.

Coun Ian Proud proposed raising the age restriction "in light of the number of anti-social behaviour problems which are fuelled by alcohol within teenagers."

He also called on the council to increase the number of designated no-drinking zones across the city.

But Mr Craik called for a more direct approach to the problem.

He said: "I do think there's an argument in favour of lobbying for such change.

"And I think we are at the point where we have to put drink out of reach.

"There is an argument to say it is time to face up to this and say you can no longer drink in public if you are under the age of 21.

"I'm not saying to rule it out for people at home, but the time has come for rather more than just an interesting debate on this problem.

"This problem needs something radical to solve it and that may be the answer because drinking is behind so much of our work. Every act of violence, every violent offence, every rape we come across is increasingly caused by drinking.

"It is a serious problem that we have tolerated for too long.

"And I'm not against the licensing trade, I don't want to stop people having fun.

"When people come to the city they should be allowed to have fun, but at what cost? Something has to be done."

But the council decided not to act on his and Coun Proud's advice, choosing to clampdown on pubs and shops selling to under-18s.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Faulkner proposed an amended motion encouraging the council to instead adopt a rigorous approach to licensing enforcement.

He said the passed amendment ensured a more even-handed approach to city drinking.

Mr Faulkner said: "We think it was a rather illiberal motion and it would be unfair to impose this on everyone who visits Newcastle because of a problem caused by some people.

"We can not ask to impose restrictions on the majority because of the actions of a few.

"It would have a big impact on the city's economy and we would not want that.

"And to stop people under 21 who are just visiting from having a drink would not necessarily solve the problem."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said the chief constable was expressing his personal opinion.