NI Children's Commissioner Nigel Williams is taking legal action

The commissioner's office said children and young people have not been directly and fully consulted on the laws.

The planned laws, known as ASBOs, are being brought in to deal with problems like underage drinking and vandalism.

Linda Kerr, Head of Legal Services for the Commissioner, said children have been denied their right to have a say.

"We feel that an important right of young people is to participate in decisions that will affect them and the government is not giving them the opportunity to do this during this consultation process," she said.

"The government, to our knowledge has not consulted at all with children and young people during the consultation on these ASBOS which will affect them.

"We feel that we need to ask the court to delay the implementation of the legislation to enable a proper consultation to take place."

Young males

However, Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar said proper consultation had taken place, taking on board the views of organisations which had written to him.

"We know that this will have a significant effect in making lives for ordinary citizens a lot better, particularly for elderly people whose lives are being made hell," he said.

"We do understand that there will be an impact on young males if they are the ones who are committing the crime.

"A lot of young people will be the victims of crime as well. That is precisely why we are looking at these measures."

He said there was a danger that if the public felt the government was powerless, they would start to look at alternatives.

"I want to stop that. I do not think that summary justice, extra judicial punishments, are right. I want these matters dealt with properly in a court of law," he said.