Police launch crack-down on anti-social behaviour

Police in Newtownabbey have launched a crack-down against anti-social behaviour in the area, asking parents the question: "Do you know where your children are at night?"

In an effort to demonstrate to parents and the wider community the detrimental impact that anti-social behaviour can have, CCTV footage is to be released showing a range of incidents from criminal damage to disorder, some of which involve very young teenagers.

Newtownabbey District Commander Superintendent Will Kerr said: "Anti-social behaviour can have a major impact on peoples' quality of life. While police can and are dealing with the symptoms - the community has to deal with its causes.

"Therefore I would appeal to parents to make sure they know where their children are, who they are with and what they are doing. I would ask them are they sure their children are not involved in the type of activity shown in the CCTV footage?

"I would stress that the vast majority of young people in the area are well behaved, but there is a small element who are behaving badly and making peoples' lives a misery."

Superintendent Kerr continued by saying that police in Newtownabbey would no longer tolerate anti-social behaviour."

He said: "We have increased patrols on Friday and Saturday nights which are focusing on hot-spot areas and we will continue to deal robustly with anti-social behaviour. Anyone involved in any criminal activity will be prosecuted or referred to the Youth Diversion Officer, and anyone drinking on the street will have their alcohol seized and will be reported to Newtownabbey Borough Council."

Over the last month alone, police patrols have made 62 separate seizures of alcohol from juveniles and 145 juveniles were reported to the Youth Diversion Officer for a range of issues from Youths Causing Annoyance to criminal offences. Police made 12 arrests for disorderly behaviour, one for riotous behaviour, and 21 for criminal damage.

In a bid to combat the anti-social behavior, police, in conjunction with Newtownabbey Borough Council, North Eastern Education and Library Board, Community Safety Partnership and other community organisations, are running a wide range of activities for young people throughout the summer months.

These include, summer schemes, an adventure camp, soccer tournaments, and a coaching day at the Valley Leisure Centre with top coaches from Liverpool FC.

(EF/SP)