This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6086448.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Vandals 'cause damage over £1m' Vandals 'cause damage over £1m'
(about 2 hours later)
More than £1m has been spent repairing criminal damage, often caused by children as young as eight, in the Newtownabbey area.More than £1m has been spent repairing criminal damage, often caused by children as young as eight, in the Newtownabbey area.
The figures from the police and Home Office also show that most of the vandalism has been targeted at schools.The figures from the police and Home Office also show that most of the vandalism has been targeted at schools.
There have been 87 attacks on schools alone since April costing £77,000.There have been 87 attacks on schools alone since April costing £77,000.
Most of these happened during the summer school holidays, but just last weekend over 100 windows were smashed at a primary school.Most of these happened during the summer school holidays, but just last weekend over 100 windows were smashed at a primary school.
A nine-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident, but was returned home to his parents because he was under the age of criminal responsibility.A nine-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident, but was returned home to his parents because he was under the age of criminal responsibility.
The police had to be called and we had customers running into the shop afraid Shop manager
District Commander Superintendent Will Kerr said parents must ensure they know what their children are doing.District Commander Superintendent Will Kerr said parents must ensure they know what their children are doing.
"Some of the kids involved are as young as eight or nine," he said."Some of the kids involved are as young as eight or nine," he said.
"Some are under the age of criminal responsibility, but there is a clear issue around parental responsibility and parental control. Why are these kids out unsupervised?""Some are under the age of criminal responsibility, but there is a clear issue around parental responsibility and parental control. Why are these kids out unsupervised?"
'Greater police presence'
The manager of one business in the area said she was forced to close early after a group of up 70 youths began fighting outside.
"The police had to be called and we had customers running into the shop afraid," she said.
"They were aged from as young as eight, up to about 16 or 17, and we had to end up closing the premises for two hours earlier than normal."
The manager said she would like to see a greater police presence in the area.
One teenager interviewed by the BBC admitted he had been involved in vandalism, mostly through "boredom".
We also had a very serious arson attack, where our whole music department was destroyed and we lost all our equipment Fiona PrideNewtownabbey Community High
"Everyone was doing it - trying to be a hard man," he said.
He said he was aged about 13 and his parents would not have known what he was doing.
"They would have killed me," he said.
Superintendent Kerr said he would "strongly dispute" the teenager's claim that the "police hardly come through here" anymore.
The officer said the PSNI had a "very positive and very constructive relationship" with the community, particularly in Rathcoole.
The principal of Newtownabbey Community High, Fiona Pride, said her staff would be doing their part to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"We have been subjected to two serious attacks recently," she said.
"In the summer term, we had 18 windows smashed - a number of which were in brand new science laboratories which hadn't even opened.
"We also had a very serious arson attack, where our whole music department was destroyed and we lost all our equipment."