[bbfan1991]

Police in Durham have been handing out sweets to students to remind them to be quiet on their way home from nights out.

The force has reportedly purchased around 10,000 sweets bearing messages such as 'Quiet Please' and 'Shush' to give to drinkers on the busiest nights in the city after complaints about rowdy students in residential areas.

The move is part of Durham's ongoing Safe City campaign, which aims to make it the safest city in the UK in terms of crime rates, incidents of anti-social behaviour and public confidence levels.

Funding for the initiative has been provided by organisations including Durham County Council, the city's PubWatch scheme, Durham University and Teikyo University of Japan in Durham.

Inspector Paul Anderson of Durham Police told The Mail On Sunday: "The idea of handing out sweets or lollipops at the end of the night has been done in other areas, but we think Durham is the first to include a message aimed at those who might otherwise make a racket.

"Late-night noise is a genuine issue for a number of our residents and we hope that this initiative will make a difference. It also provides another way for our officers to engage with students and other revellers when they are out on the town.

"The principal candy cops will be university liaison officers, PCSOs Phil Raine and Paul Coburn, supported by members of the local neighbourhood policing team."