UNDERAGE teens, who attempt to flout the law by using other people's ID to gain entry into Sidmouth bars, are being warned by police this will not be tolerated.

UNDERAGE teens, who attempt to flout the law by using other people's ID to gain entry into Sidmouth bars, are being warned by police this will not be tolerated.

The police joined forces with security staff in Carina's Nightclub and other pubs in the town last year in a bid to prevent youths from buying alcohol and breaking the law.

The IDs are handed to the police from bar and security staff, who have raised the alarm, and officers send them straight back to the relevant authority, such as the passport office or DVLA.

Sergeant Andy Turner said the operation has been very successful and six IDs have been confiscated in the last month alone.

He said: "Licensed premises are being very pro-active in their monitoring of under-aged people.

"In the last few months we have collected a range of different IDs, including fake IDs that have been bought off the internet.

"People are borrowing them off friends, brothers or sisters and trying to pass them as their own. Staff at licensed premises know most people in Sidmouth and are challenging them before seizing the IDs.

"Under no circumstances do we return them to their rightful owner. If people come into the station asking for them we will not give them back."

Sergeant Turner added that youngsters who use other people's ID also run the risk of arrest as they are committing a fraud.

"It is a crime as they are making a false representation in order to make a gain. The police in Sidmouth are taking a very dim view of this."

Mandy Patch, manager of Carina's, said: "The situation had dramatically improved in the last few months-I have only had to confiscate about four IDs.

"But, at the end of the day, I don't want to have to confiscate anybody's. I don't think the 16-year-old boys and girls who try to get into the club understand the consequences of their actions.

"They are putting our licence at risk. With the smoking ban and the credit crunch I can't afford one silly 16-year-old to make us lose our licence.