TIME is to be called on under-age drinking, using new legal powers.

Police swoops can be expected on trouble spots across Teesside, with the spotlight on adults who buy, or attempt to buy, alcohol for juniors.

Police already have the power to confiscate liquor found in the possession of under-age youngsters. Under the Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000, which came into effect last month, any person, rather than just a licensee, can be prosecuted for supplying drink to young people.

The arrival of the legislation on the statute book comes only weeks after Cleveland Police targeted gangs congregating around shopping precincts and shops at Marton, Coulby Newham and Acklam.

Using community police teams, the district support unit and officers on horses, Operation Cooperative was in response to complaints from neighbourhoods suffering drink-fuelled vandal attacks.

PC Revis Phillips, who is planning a series of operations, said: "We are pleased to see the Home Office recognises there is a problem with anti-social behaviour around off-licences and has introduced legislation to cope with it. I think it will have a big impact.

"We will use this new legislation to clamp down on problems in the street and, over the next few weeks, we will be out and about targeting certain areas and premises.

"It is not solely a problem that affects Middlesbrough or Cleveland, it is all over the country, and it has been identified by the Home Office, who have authorised the changes in the law."

Three or four swoops are expected to be launched over the coming weeks. PC Revis's attitude is that, if police go into action "early and hard", there could be a resulting drop in anti-social behaviour.

He said: "We want the message to get across that we are determined to crack down on this problem. Once it gets home, we will see a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

"There is a general warning to shop keepers. Liquor licence is a privilege that can be removed if they flout the law."