Cleveland Police will be taking part in the week-long campaign, which starts on Monday.

The aim of the campaign, which will include various spot checks around Hartlepool, is to help reduce the risk of death and serious injury on the roads within the force area.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of seatbelt use becoming compulsory across Europe and the enforcement campaign is being co-ordinated by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network.

Police chiefs say the crackdown will help "save lives" and they will be targeting cars carrying children now that they are back to school.

To achieve this, officers from the road policing unit will be stopping vehicles if the occupants are not wearing their belts.

Officers will enforce legislation which may see those flouting the law issued with fixed penalty notices or being reported for summons.

Acting Inspector Gary Hatton, the head of Cleveland Police road policing unit, said: "This operation will be taking place right across Europe and Cleveland Police will support it fully.

"Drivers have a legal and moral duty to themselves and their passengers to ensure that everyone in their vehicle, and especially a child, is wearing a seat restraint before moving off.

"We want to save lives – not have to deal with the aftermath. It is just as important to wear a seat restraint while going on a short journey to the shops, or on the school run, as it is when travelling on long journeys.

"As the campaign coincides with the start of the new school year, we will be paying particular attention to children not wearing seat restraints."

Hartlepool's District Commander Andy Summerbell said: "This is a vital campaign, but I would like to stress that it is my sincere desire to have motorists and their passengers wear their belts so that we do not have to consider prosecuting.

"The message is simply 'protect yourself from harm'."

The department for transport estimates that seat belt wearing saves over 2,000 lives every year.

The scheme is the latest police initiative run by the force in an attempt to improve road safety.

Last month, temporary speed checks on the A689 were hailed as a success while a clampdown on untaxed, unlicensed and illegal vehicles has also been carried out in recent weeks in and around Hartlepool.