Police get tough over drink ban

Many trains were damaged and vandalised during a "booze party"

People who break or ignore the alcohol ban on London's transport will face "tough" action, police have warned.

Speaking before MPs, Chief Constable for British Transport Police Ian Johnstone said a "period of education" will last only a few months.

On 31 May, the eve of the ban, thousands of revellers gathered on Tube trains and stations for a booze party.

Four Tube drivers and two officers were assaulted by drunk revellers and some trains were vandalised.

Speaking before the Commons' Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Johnstone said: "There will be an education programme and then we're going to get tough on the people who don't comply.

"It (booze party) makes the point very clearly that this is exactly why we don't want drinking on London Underground."

He added that officers will take strong steps against people who "flagrantly" breach the law.

"What we really don't want to do is raise the level of hostility or create the impression that it's mayhem out there, because it isn't. The public are a pretty sensible entity," he said.

The drinking ban prohibits people from carrying open cans or bottles of alcohol on the Tube, buses, trams and Docklands Light Railway.

It is part of mayor Boris Johnson's wider strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour.