A SENIOR policeman has launched a blistering tirade against parents failing to control their children, saying he will haul them before the courts if he has to.

Chief Insp Paul Eveleigh, Castle Point's district commander, said some parents were allowing children as young as 11 to roam the streets.

He believed the minority of mums and dads who were letting their children run riot had to be dealt with as well, if antisocial behaviour was to be properly tackled.

Mr Eveleigh's comments come days after about 30 youths caused mayhem by starting a series of fires - one of which nearly sent a house up in flames - in Third Avenue, Canvey.

He said: "Parents are failing in their duty of care to their children. When we take these young children home, officers often face abuse from their parents.

"We want to have a positive impact on this area, but a lot of the issues are beyond police control and can only be solved by partnership working.

"There will be a very visible police presence in this area in the short term, but a lot of these incidents are relatively minor.

"It doesn't make sense for us to tie up officers there all the time when they could be dealing with more serious crime."

Announcing Operation Narcissus, Mr Eveleigh said it would involve a number of groups, some of which would target problem families to offer them support.

"If parents failed to comply with the help offered, Mr Eveleigh said they could be dealt with by the courts.

He said: "Children aged 11 or 12 are frequently permitted to stay out after midnight. Whatever we do, there are still social problems and a lack of good parenting is causing most problems."

Antisocial behaviour legislation has given courts the power to issue parenting orders, which can require parents to attend residential parenting courses.

Failure to obey the order can mean a hefty fine.