Young people 'are out of control'

Mr McGrath said police were not doing enough

Police in Downpatrick are failing to tackle anti-social behaviour, according to a member of the local district policing partnership.

SDLP councillor Colin McGrath said he felt teenagers were out of control.

He said he told police about a youth painting graffiti on a lamp post, but they refused to take action as it would involve "a mountain of paperwork".

Mr McGrath said he felt let down by this, as it meant low-level crime was not being dealt with properly.

"Large gangs of young people are openly drinking on the street, fighting, setting off fireworks ahead of Halloween and lying down in the road," he told the BBC's Talkback.

"I'm talking about children aged about 14 or 15 - that just isn't acceptable.

"The response they are receiving from police is not going to prevent this behaviour."

He said he had raised this with the local police commander, who told him more than 850 letters had been sent out to the homes of youths involved in anti-social behaviour.

"I know officers say they have limited resources and don't want to criminalise young people," he said.

"They say they write to individuals four times and on the fifth time they follow it up.

"There should be some follow-up after the first offence, and it definitely needs challenged by the second time."