Letters sent out to 'yob parents'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7025412.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Belfast City Council is to issue warning letters to the parents of children involved in anti-social behaviour in its public parks.

Over the summer the council targeted eight areas as part of a pilot project aimed at combating the growing problem.

It found teenagers are the main culprits when it comes to drinking and vandalism.

Project co-ordinator Laura Hamill said further action would be taken if youths re-offended.

"In the past, I think there was a certain reluctance by people to report anti-social behaviour, especially in parks - they just shrugged it off as a fact of life," she said.

"However, since the project started, we have noticed an increase in the number of people coming forward and saying 'enough is enough' - because they know we are taking action to combat the problem.

"And those engaged in the anti-social behaviour know that we are going to catch them and deal with them."