The report on antisocial behaviour also indicates that the rates amongst young males has remained mostly the same. 

New research from the ESRI has highlighted some really important findings about antisocial behaviour among teenagers and younger children, too, and the consequences for them.

While the definition of antisocial behaviour can vary from country to country, the term is generally used to describe behaviour that goes against social norms, and can bring in a criminal element.

The report explained the wide spectrum that antisocial behaviour falls under, from violent to non-violent. This includes things like not paying your bus fare, hitting someone, robbing a car, hanging around on street corners, etc.

When speaking about the report with The Claire Byrne Show, author and psychologist Katriona O'Sullivan shared her thoughts on why the statistics showed such an increase in antisocial behaviour in young women.

She explained: "When you dig deep into the report, you can see that there are increases in particular types of behaviour.

"So it's in not paying bus fares and hitting people, either being hit by somebody or having reported hit somebody.

"But they actually have connected that increase with anxiety in young girls. So the trends with boys has stayed the same, but girls, they've increased, I think it's from 10% to 16%.

"That has been directly related to increased mental health difficulties.

"So what they're calling for in the report, which I think is absolutely right, is they are highlighting the fact that there's been cuts in the likes of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and there's not enough access to mental health supports for all children, but particularly young girls."

Ms O'Sullivan added that while she doesn't think the legal system is required for every case, that doesn't mean the problem should be ignored.

While it's been shown that increased policing isn't a deterrent, a study in London indicated that a better course of action was establishing more youth clubs.

The study showed that the more youth clubs available, the less youth crime there was. So, by cutting funding for these programmes, you can see a rise in antisocial behaviour.

Main image: File photo of a group of young people gathered in shadow