Operation Staysafe has seen at least 175 children taken off the streets late at night to a place of safety. Young people are told about the Consquences campaign inspired by Adam Rogers, and his death following a drink-fuelled incident. We went on the 25th operation.

“I tell the children who we bring in, and their parents, about what happened to Adam Rogers.

“That is the worst case scenario. I explain they don’t want to be like that 16-year-old who caused his death.

"And they don’t want to become the next victim of alcohol-fuelled violence.”

Inspector Muz Patala oversees Operation Staysafe, which among other aims, takes boozing children off the streets at the weekend.

Staysafe started last summer and in that time more than 3,100 young people have been spoken to and at least 175 children taken off the streets to a place of safety.

When a child who is ‘vulnerable to commiting crime or becoming a victim of crime’ gets brought in, their parents are contacted.

One officer on duty said: “Invariably we get an adult to come out and even if they come through the doors very angry, once they’ve had a chat with us and Children’s Services, they see reason.”

In tonight’s operation, South West Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Paul Schofield drives us round the Bank Top, Lammack, Corporation Park, Feniscowles, Griffin and Galligreaves, Nova Scotia and Infirmary areas of Blackburn.

“Some of the kids are more clued-up because they know we’re out on Staysafe. They’re hanging around in woods or dark ginnels,” says one PC.

Just before 8pm, we come across a group of about eight youths making their way along Bank Top.

As we perform a quick U-turn, one or two slope away into the shadows, but about six youths are stopped by Sgt Schofield, who collars a 15-year-old lad carrying a sports bag full of alcohol.

He is told what Operation Staysafe is about and why he will be escorted to Bank Top Community Centre and his parents contacted.

Back at the centre, the teenager is greeted by a member of the local Youth Offending Team and two Blackburn with Darwen Children’s Services workers.

One tells me: “You get parents that are receptive and understand what we are doing, but you get some that say ‘I don’t understand why you’ve called me out and interrupted my night'.

"They’re not bothered about where their child is.”

Despite his protestations that the two litres of cider and three litre bottles of alcopops are not his, the Ewood teenager’s dad is on the way.

It’s a premature end to his night and the police have ruined his and the group’s plans to get drunk.

But the operation means that’s one less potential victim or offender and, in the ‘worst case scenario’, one less possible knock on the front door to a frantic family.

Then its back out with Sgt Matt Daley and PCSO Mo Emam and we find two girls aged 12 and 13 and two lads aged 13 and 17 in Wilson Street, just before 9.30pm.

The girls claims to be on their way home for a sleepover.

Sgt Daley phones the house and verifies she’s telling the truth.

He later explains children will often tell their parents they are sleeping at a friend’s house and then go out drinking.

Insp Patala said the Staysafe message was getting through.

He said: “Kids tend to know at the weekend Staysafe is on somewhere in Blackburn with Darwen.

"Young people are not as tolerant to drink, not as conscious of their behaviour.

"They might upset the wrong people, become a victim of crime.

“Then ultimately there’s the drastic results of one punch thrown.”