TONY Blair's local police force is refusing to use his flagship new powers to stamp out underage drinking - saying they don't work.

County Durham police handed out only one on-the-spot fine to an under-18 for trying to buy alcohol in the first 11 months of the controversial initiative.

During the same period, no penalty notices were issued to bar staff, pub licensees or shopkeepers for serving someone underage.

Now the force has told The Northern Echo it is deliberately avoiding on-the-spot fines because they do not tackle the "root cause" of teenage drinking.

It prefers to take youngsters - and the pub and shopowners breaking the law - to court, where tougher action can be taken.

Five police forces - North Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, City of London and Surrey - have not issued a single penalty.

The Cleveland force handed out 21 fines in the first 11 months and Northumbria 22, according to the Home Office figures.

County Durham's policy is an embarrassment to Mr Blair, who claimed on-the-spot fines would be a more effective way of tackling teenage drunkenness.

Announcing the powers in 2004, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "The result will be more freedom for responsible adults and tougher treatment for the yobbish minority."

But Sergeant Tim Robson, substance misuse officer for North Durham, said: "Fixed penalty notices do not deal with the root cause of the problem.

"We deal with underage drinking by taking offenders to court, where they can be prosecuted for breach of their licence agreement.

"If the barperson is given a fine, there is then simply a whip-round of every- body working behind the bar to pay the £80 - so that next week, it happens again."

Sgt Robson said the punishments available at magistrates' courts included a £20,000 fine, the closure of a premises for three months, or even a six-month jail term for the licence-holder.