ON the arson attack which caused damage put at £12,000 at the QEII play area in Ebley.

Posted by clams: If the little toe rags are caught then their parents should pay for the damage to the park and if there not old enough to go to jail then the parents should serve time for them.

Posted by TheWrongUn: What a ridiculous solution. Nothing about changing the behaviours of the perpetrators just simply punishments of others? What would be the benefit of putting their parents in jail?

Posted by clams: Because parenting through indifference which seems to be quite prevalent in this area does not work. If you want kids then take responsibility for them. You are either a solution to the problem or a big part of it.

Posted by TheWrongUn: This kind of behaviour is not isolated to this area, anti-social behaviour and vandalism is a problem across this country, so to imply that it’s down to the parenting of this area is ridiculous. Sadly with the type of attitude you’ve shown you clearly are not going to be part of the solution.

Posted by Salendine: It also depends whether these kids are ‘wrong-uns’ or whether they have been ‘wronged’. Psychology and neuro-science has only recently started to get to grips with the impact of neglect/abuse on young children but it has advanced far enough to discover that simply punishing bad behaviour often doesn’t work with kids that have been abused, neglected or traumatised. Punishment has to go alongside other therapies.

Posted by clams: And your liberal attitudes always putting the fault at society’s door is what provides a crutch to these types of behaviours. Education begins at home, unfortunately the parents more than likely have failed and should be held responsible as should the kids.

Posted by Salendine: If you think the parents have failed (I agree) how do propose breaking the circle of failure? If the parents are poorly educated how are they going to avoid breeding the next generation of thugs? Discipline changes the immediate behaviour but is less effective at changing attitudes. I’m saying add education to punishment. That’s not liberal, that is progression.

Posted by Cots Adorer: Totally agree with clams, the parents of these two idiots should pay to replace it. Their “children” at 15 are under their care and discipline. That should soon start getting some decent behaviour into the families involved in wrecking this play facility.