It is very [i]catch 22[/i]. Those that finish up on the receiving end of vandalism are victims and are naturally very aggrieved at such behaviour. But at risk of giving the vandals an excuse for their actions, yes, some have come from backgrounds that are less desirable for bringing up young ones as in ....

[quote]One would hope they have been 'offered' instruction by significant family or guardians. Unfortunately, it seems many young people are left to bring themselves up. There's a wealth of broken families, men who negate thier parental responsibility and woman who equally have the responsibility but come from poor role models themselves,so the result is what you see. Angry, confused young people with little or no direction or idea.[/quote]

I am perhaps confusing the difference between [i]giving[/i] and [i]offering[/i] instruction. Raising little ones I tend to think that as they get older and keep within the set boundaries you extend the boundaries and so, for example, when they are really little, the ruling might be they would be in bed at an appropriate time, at the same time every night and as they get older that boundary is extended until such time as they can decide for themselves and so when they are little ones they are not really in a position to be offered instruction so much as being given instruction - obviously, in a balanced not a bully sense. When they are older, if they have never had that sort of background then possibly if they are offered instruction they may well tell you what to do with it.

No action and both sides of society suffer for it, albeit in different ways. It comes back to the same question on how to deal with it. They do indeed need direction and it may well come down to three things.

1. Financial resources.
2. People willing to undertake the task.
3. Willingness on the part of the young ones to participate.

One would hope they have been 'offered' instruction by significant family or guardians. Unfortunately, it seems many young people are left to bring themselves up. There's a wealth of broken families, men who negate thier parental responsibility and woman who equally have the responsibility but come from poor role models themselves,so the result is what you see. Angry, confused young people with little or no direction or idea. The 'Family' as we would want it and as it used to be simply 'isn't' often anymore. What can be done? Boot camp, yes for some, Simple boundaries and a 'no'tolerance for bad behaviour a must for society. A much harder approach from the outset. Children respect thine elders and thine elders give reason for respect. :)

All in a day's entertainment for them and likely a deviation from boredom. [i]"The devil makes work for idle hands."[/i] How true is that? Clearly they don't have enough to occupy the mind and the body in constructive pursuits and for some, it would probably hold no interest for them.

Perhaps boot camp is a good start for those unrepentant....

They need some way of having pride in doing the right things in life not peer cheering for doing the wrong things. It's easy for us to speculate on how they became the way they are, but other than tough love or boot camp how else do you instill good behaviour in young ones who seem to have not learnt (ie have received instruction whilst growing up but choose to ignore) or been taught how to behave?

It seems a lot of things get vandalised down there, I don't think the police ever venture down there. I remember the outdoor stage being burned down by vandals too.

Noticed by the Ferry in the last month, one seat uprooted and thrown on to the grass then one week later thrown into the Avon, now gone completely.
How long before replacement.
We could do with 20 more seats on the river bank, some to replace old.
Total cost on the basis of a recent quote would be less than £20000, not a lot in relationship to the cost of the revamped Bancroft gardens.
Csense