Burglary and underage drinking are the policing pronlems which most concern people in Northern Ireland, according to a District Policing Partnership survey.
Just under half of those polled (42 per cent) identified under-age age drinking and burglary as among their top five concerns.
This was followed by young people causing a nuisance (39 per cent), vandalism (39 per cent) and speeding (37 per cent). Sectarian attacks accounted for just 9 per cent — one of the lowest ratings. Catholics were more alarmed about under-age drinking than Protestants.
A total of 12,197 questionnaires were returned and amongst other things, it asked people to prioritise the policing issues about which they were most concerned and to select the policing activities that they would like to see the police in their area concentrate most resources on.
Speaking about the survey's findings, Policing Board Chairman, Professor Sir Desmond Rea, said the results were similar to the findings of the 2004 survey and the activities on which the public think police in their area should be concentrating most resources are beat/foot patrolling (71 per cent), prompt response to emergencies (62 per cent), crime prevention (61 per cent) and investigating crime (54 per cent).
"This is much more than just a paper exercise as the responses provided will be used by the Policing Board and PSNI to help formulate next year's Northern Ireland Policing Plan, and by DPPs and District Commanders in the development of Local Policing Plans in each district," added Prof Rea.
The top five concerns among Protestants were household burglaries (45 per cent), vandalism (41 per cent), under-age drinking (40 per cent), speeding and young people causing a nuisance (39 per cent each).
Among Catholics they were under-age drinking (48 per cent), vandalism (38 per cent), domestic burglary, speeding and young people causing a nuisance (37 per cent each).
Protestants were more concerned about paramilitary attacks than Catholics — 17 per cent compared to 8 per cent. Catholics were also more alarmed by flags and emblems than Protestants — 23 per cent to 16 per cent.
Prof Rea also said 71 per cent of respondents had heard of DPPs which is an increase of four percentage points since 2004. Of those, 45 per cent said they would be "prepared to contact their DPP regarding local policing issues".
"This is encouraging for all DPPs as they continue in their efforts to engage with the public and gain the co-operation of local people in working with the DPP and the Police to prevent crime and make communities safer," he said.