Head of Police Mike Craik launches a crackdown on drunken crime

Northumbria Police's new Chief Constable Mike Craik was in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, on Bank Holiday Monday alongside scores of officers.

He was spearheading a new campaign, 'The Party's Over' tackling drunken crime in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear.

Those who urinate and vomit in public will also be targeted and the worst offenders will be named and shamed.

Last year more than 8,000 arrests for drunkenness were made in the region and Mr Craik wants to tackle the problem.

But he denied that he was trying to make the area less fun for visitors.

'Shameful state'

He said: "It took a lot of effort to stamp out football hooliganism but it is now, by and large, a problem of the past and that is what I want to happen to drunk and disorderly behaviour.

"I like fun as much as anyone, but the region's reputation for being a good place to party has its down side.

"The behaviour among many of the people who patronise pubs, bars and nightclubs has reached a shameful state."