YOUNG people who 'preload' before coming into Bournemouth and Poole risk becoming victims of crime, a top officer has warned.

Chief Inspector Bryan Duffy says the practice - which involves drinking alcohol, often in large quantities, before going out socially - can put people in danger.

And he said the number of people consuming alcohol just at licensed premises is waning, with more drinking at home before heading out for the night.

"Preloading is a problem," he said.

"Younger people in particular can make themselves vulnerable before they've set foot in a pub or club.

"They've been drinking and that's how they've arrived in town."

Officers are working with student unions at both Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth to try and tackle the problem.

However, younger people are also involved in incidents in the town centre outside of nightclubs and bars.

"We're working in partnership with other agencies to prevent people from becoming victims of crime," Ch Insp Duffy said.

"Part of that involves working to tackle anti-social behaviour in places like the Lower Gardens.

"The age ranges of people involved in that type of offending has started to drop - they're getting younger and younger.

"It's important for us to ask parents, 'Do you know where you children are and how they're behaving?'"

Ch Insp Duffy said many of those found drinking and behaving anti-socially in Bournemouth live outside of the town.

"They're coming from across the conurbation. They're not just from Bournemouth," he said.

As reported in the Daily Echo, "pay-day weekends" - Fridays and Saturdays at the end of each month - are believed to be especially challenging for police as revellers have more money to spend on alcohol.

There are also more incidents reported during the summertime, with an increase in anti-social behaviour and 'public place violence'.