A SENIOR police officer in Oxford has backed calls for parents to take more responsibility to prevent their children turning into drunken louts.

Chief Supt Shaun Morley has urged parents to stop turning a blind eye to their children drinking under 18.

Earlier this month, police also revealed one in ten licenced premises in Oxford sold alcohol to underage teenagers in a undercover operation.

Violent crime in Oxford city centre, especially drink-related assaults, has increased by 13 per cent this year.

Chief Supt Morley said: "Parents permit or turn a blind eye to their children drinking under the legal age limit.

"Sometimes, they are even complicit in buying the alcohol for the consumption of their son or daughter in public.

"Also, for those 18 to 24 year olds, the binge drinking of a large quantity of spirits, such as vodka, immediately before going out for a night in town causes immense problems. Parents need to take more responsibility, actively discourage underage drinking and be aware of the consequences."

Chief Supt Morley also called for a debate on how to deal with alcohol-related issues, such as the rise in violent offences and high proportion of domestic violence associated with drinking.

He added drinkers' approach to alcohol was not mature enough to lead to a street cafe culture in Oxford.

He said: "All too often the police have to intervene when things have gone wrong or pick up the pieces when dealing with victims.

"We certainly need a significant change in attitudes to alcohol, especially in the 18 to 24 age group, including students where wholly inappropriate behaviour fuelled by excess alcohol consumption is seen as acceptable by many of that peer group.

"I am not especially convinced that the answer is to raise the minimum age for drinking alcohol and in general I'm in favour of less regulation, and better self- management.

"However, if that does not work, and it doesn't appear to be, then banning alcohol consumption except in private or at licenced venues may have to be the way to progress."

A city centre ban on drinking in the street has been in place for about two years.