Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has criticised the cost of policing in the Castlemara estate, Carrickfergus.
Stewart Dickson said: “The revelation that the PSNI has spent £1.6 million over the last five months keeping two criminal gangs apart is a public scandal. This is an absolute waste of police time and public money. Money that should be spent on normal day to day community policing.
“The police have confirmed that nine people have been charged with a range of offences, including drugs, intimidation, and possession of weapons. The police have also recovered guns and cocaine during searches. Clearly the gangs involved in this dispute care nothing about the people living in this area, many of whom are living in fear.
“The police need the help of the local community to do their job fully, and I would urge anyone with information about criminal activities to pass it to the police on the 101 number or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”