PUBS, off-licences, police and local authorities have been working together for the past year to forge a new partnership aimed at reducing alcohol-induced anti-social behaviour in town centres.

Bishop Auckland, Crook and Barnard Castle are among the first towns in the area to benefit from the Nightsafe campaign, which will be launched this week throughout the rest of south west Durham and Darlington.

Inspector George Ledger and Sergeant Dave Ashton, from Crook Police, say a lot of hard work has been put into the initiative but it has been worthwhile and the area now has a solid foundation to build on to take the campaign further.

Insp Ledger said: "There are three stages to Nightsafe. The first is about working more closely with different organisations, the second is to educate people and the third is to build on the links we have made and take action.

"This year has been all about forging better links between ourselves, licensed premises and the local authority and it is working.''

This Friday, Wear and Tees Community Partnership will join forces with both Sedgefield and Darlington Community Partnerships in an initiative which will take Nightsafe further afield.

It will target 18 to 24-year-old men in particular and is being timed to coincide with the forthcoming festive celebrations and the new Licensing Act, which comes into force at the end of the week.

The partnerships will meet at the Redworth Hall Hotel, near Newton Aycliffe, where the full extent of how the campaign will work will be revealed.

A series of provocative adverts will be placed on the back of buses, as well as on posters and beer mats, all urging revellers to drink sensibly.

It is a message that drinkers in the Wear and Tees Community Partnership area are starting to take notice of.

Sgt Ashton said: "I have noticed a big difference on a weekend in the towns, particularly in Crook.

"It is a lot quieter. We have developed good relationships with door staff as well as licensees.

"Pubs are calling us when they think trouble is about to start and we are taking more preventative measures than reactive.

"People need to realise that drinking too much alcohol is not a defence.''

* In The Northern Echo tomorrow, Darlington-based doorman Dean Sawyer will talk about how he would like to the campaign to work.