POLICE in Derwentside are concerned that underage youngsters are getting drink bought for them at off-licences.

Police in the Consett and Stanley area have been successfully cracking down on underage drinking in recent years through measures such as test purchase schemes.

But some youngsters are getting around the law by persuading friends who are 18 or over to buy them drink, mainly from off-licences.

In his annual licensing report, Chief Inspector Bob Glass said the problem was often raised with police at consultation meetings with the public.

"This is a difficult area for licensees who have a business to run and are complying with the letter of the law while perhaps breaching the spirit of the law," he said. "The police continue to view such abuses as inappropriate and intervene if necessary. Legislation is needed to tighten up this anomaly, and this area is included in the Government White Paper, Time for Reform."

Arrests for public order offences or breaches of the peace - often drink-fuelled - rose from 584 in 1999 to 624 in 2000.

Drink-driving arrests rose from 116 in 1999 to 148 last year during which there were 52 arrests for supplying drugs and 74 for drugs possession.

Chief Insp Glass said drug problems in one local village fell after a series of prosecutions.

Offences of violence were recorded at a rate of 7.64 per 1,000 people, just above the average for County Durham.

"Violent crime remains a priority for Derwentside police and will be vigorously pursued,'' said Chief Insp Glass.

He said that CCTV in Consett and Stanley was helping the fight over crime and that most licensees obeyed the law.