A CRACKDOWN is to be made on stag and hen parties travelling from Teesside and causing drink-related disorder in York on Saturdays.

A new operation - Operation Erase - by police in the city and British Transport Police (BTP) will clamp down on alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour by large groups of men and women travelling into York.

The problem is mainly isolated to Saturdays when “a significant number of individuals regularly travel down from the Middlesbrough area and begin to cause alcohol related disorder from 11am onwards,” Safer York Partnership said.

Jane Mowat, director of Safer York Partnership, said: “We are aware of the concerns raised by residents and visitors about behaviour linked to excess alcohol consumption. The problems are largely associated with groups who arrive in York having consumed large amounts of alcohol, continue to drink and are extremely intoxicated when they leave. This has not only caused problems of drunken rowdiness in the city but also on the trains.

“We are working closely with North Yorkshire Police and BTP to address issues and ensure the behaviour of a minority does not spoil the experience of York for others.”

There were 88 alcohol related offences at York train station in 2012/13, compared to 55 the year before, and there have been 22 offences since April, BTP said.

Since January there have been 16 offences recorded on Saturday evenings on trains between York and Teeside, with 14 arrests.

Chief Inspector Lorna McEwan, of BTP, said those involved are generally travelling into the city early and leaving relatively early, although there was a spike in problems later on a night as well.

She said: “It’s causing a lot of issues on trains. People who are unfit to travel because they have had too much to drink are causing assaults and making it an awful journey for staff on the trains.

“They drink when they’re coming down to York and continue drinking the whole day... it’s a recipe for disaster.

“Their behaviour may seem okay to them but they do not realise it upsets people.”

Plans for Operation Erase are still in the early stages but will include looking at off license sales, working with train providers to stop people drinking on trains, and working with Visit York to ensure the actions of those involved does not make an impact on other tourists.

Coun Linsay Cunningham-Cross, City of York Council’s cabinet Member for crime, said: "As a council we are working hard with our partners to tackle the problems of antisocial behaviour related to alcohol. It's important we all work together to ensure York continues to be a safe and pleasant place to live and to visit.

"The council has undertaken a number of initiatives, alongside the police and others, to send out a clear message that the minority of individuals who misuse alcohol should not be able to ruin things for everybody else.

"Everyone has a duty to drink responsibly so that all can enjoy our fantastic city - but if people fail to abide by this simple rule then they should know action will be taken. We are ensuring that dispersal orders are taken where necessary and those committing antisocial behaviour, such as urinating in public, will be prosecuted if caught."

The Safer York Partnership report is due to be discussed by the council’s community safety overview and scrutiny committee tonight.