POLICE in Worcester will be supporting a Government drive to crack down on alcohol-related crime in the run-up to Christmas.

The Home Office has unveiled a new crack down on town centres between Wednesday, December 15 and New Year's Day, inviting every police force in the country to take part.

And Supt Rod Reynolds, deputy divisional commander of south Worcestershire police, said officers would be playing their part to ensure everyone could enjoy the Christmas season.

"Where the anti-social behaviour of some individuals - fuelled by alcohol - seeks to spoil this, we shall be cracking down heavily on such behaviour," said Supt Reynolds.

"To this end, we intend stepping-up our visible policing activities throughout the Christmas period in order that the public can enjoy safer pubs and clubs, safer streets, safer roads."

The Government initiative will see police and trading standards officers working together to target under-age drinkers and performing sting operations on pubs, clubs and off-licences.

The announcement follows claims from Councillor David Clark, chairman of Worcester City Council's licensing committee, that police are not doing enough to tackle alcohol-related disorder and under-age drinking.

In Friday's Evening News, Coun Clark, a former mayor of the city, outlined his fears that there are too few officers on patrol in the city streets to curb the behaviour of night-time revellers and check pubs and clubs are not serving under-18s.

The crackdown has been welcomed by Worcester Labour MP Michael Foster, who said: "Christmas should be a time for enjoying a few drinks, not an excuse for violent and anti-social behaviour - committed by a minority - spoiling the enjoyment for everyone else.

"You only have to go out on to Worcester's streets at night to appreciate why so many people feel intimidated."

But the Tories described the invitation for police to launch a new blitz on anti-social behaviour as "all talk" considering their plans for 24-hour drinking.

Shadow home affairs minister Cheryl Gillan said: "They have promised to get tough on binge drinking but it continues to spiral out of control. What we need are real solutions like our pledge to put 40,000 extra police on the streets to start tackling anti-social behaviour."