A CRACKDOWN has been launched on booze-fuelled yobs in North Yorkshire.

Police and trading standards officers will tackle alcohol-related violence which blights town centres in North Yorkshire Police's eastern division, which covers Scarborough and Ryedale.

Key targets will be pubs, bars and nightclubs which are a focus for rowdy behaviour, drunken thugs who cause trouble and shopkeepers and bar staff selling alcohol to under age youths.

Ministers said the eight-week campaign would focus on problems on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights - when trouble peaked.

The eastern area commander for North Yorkshire police Chief Supt David Short said that the police force had volunteered to take part in the crackdown that started today. He said it was one of 30 forces taking part out of the 43 across the country, and one of the 63 out of the total 300 command units.

"We volunteered to take part because we have got quite a lot of initiatives to change the night-time economy to confront drink-related violence and disorder," said Chief Supt Short.

"We want to work with licensees and the pub trade. We don't want to alienate them. We want to promote a town centre environment where people can enjoy a social evening without fear or threat of violence."

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears, who oversees the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, said: "We are mounting a concerted campaign to tackle the far-reaching problem of alcohol misuse and the violence it fuels.

"Alcohol-related violence is cited by one in four people as being a problem in their area. It accounts for 44 per cent of all violent crime.

"Over the next eight weeks we will find out who is selling to under-age drinkers, which bars and clubs are encouraging binge drinking and rowdy behaviour and where the worst hotspots in the country are. We are putting across a clear message - if you sell to underage drinkers, if you promote violent and antisocial behaviour, you're not going to get away with it and we will shut down your premises."

Police and trading standards teams can use several powers to tackle alcohol-related violence.

These include:

Closing rowdy pubs and nightclubs for 24 hours

Issuing £40 on-the-spot fines for people who are drunk and disorderly

Using under 18-year-olds to trap landlords who sell booze illegally to children

Naming and shaming retailers who are convicted.

Stephen Green, licensing leader for the Association of Chief Police

Officers, said: "Alcohol is a major contributor to violent crime in this country.

"We are determined to reduce violent crime across the board. Ultimately our role is enforcement, and if enforcing the law is the only way to promote

sensible drinking in our towns and cities then we will do it."

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, July 08, 2004