A FORMER magistrate has accused council bosses of encouraging youngsters to lie in order to trap underage booze sellers.

Furious Ron O’Keeffe said it was a “disgrace” underage test purchasers were told to say they were 18 when taking part in sting operations.

But council bosses have defended the tactic which they say is needed to catch out savvy traders who know how to bypass the traditional checks.

Mr O’Keeffe, a Labour councillor for Shadsworth with Whitebirk in Blackburn, vowed to take his case to Blackburn MP Jack Straw at a council meeting.

He said: “The council is condoning people to lie in its pursuit of a conviction, which in itself is a crime in law.

“I was a magistrate for 20 years and I would have thrown this out.

"Do you tell the magistrates that the young person has lied to get that conviction?

“It’s a disgrace and I will take this up with the Justice Minister.”

He claimed the policy was a breach of the code laid down by the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors).

But Coun John Slater, executive member for customer services, said: “The practice of using untruths in test purchasing is neither illegal nor against Lacors guidance.”

He said it was only used in “exceptional circumstances”.

He insisted most youngsters used were children of police or council officers who had given their express permission.

He added: “Failure to adopt this practice undermines the success of the whole test purchasing scheme.”

Councils across East Lancashire allow youngsters to lie about their age in special circumstances, said trading standards chief Jim Potts.

He added: “It’s a legitimate tactic in my view.

“Some of these sellers are getting pretty savvy about the operations we and the police are carrying out, and don’t expect test purchasers to confirm their age.”