Permissive society reaps what it sows with vandals

THE rising scourge of vandalism in the city highlights the increasing social problems we are being subjected to.

Unfortunately vandalism is generally the precursor to more serious crime and lawlessness across the board.

It is difficult to comprehend the motivation behind the vandals’ behaviour, and what makes them tick.

Senseless and wilful destruction of property is a serious crime and deserves punishment to the letter of the law.

Rarely, however, do courts see fit to impose the prescribed penalty. Community service is not an option. Indeed it is just a joke; a figment of some dogooders’ wild imagination that looks good on paper.

On closer analysis, the offending vandal might be better being confined to a psychiatric institution, because undoubtedly, it’s the offenders’ mind that is the big problem. Until the vandals’ mental affliction is treated, he will continue to be a scourge – and indeed a danger – to society.

I nominate lack of parental control along with alcohol/ drugs, as the chief causes for this alarming increase in anti- social behaviour, but responsible parenting is really the master key to the whole problem.

Until parents are bound by a rigid law to be responsible for their children’s behaviour up to at least the age of 17, I see things only deteriorating.

The trouble is each generation continues to decline because of the diminishing parental control spawned by the previous generation, the associated increase in parental apathy and overindulgence and patronising of offspring.

Sadly the parental control of my generation has been largely displaced by the computer, iPad, tablet, tele- vision, mobile phones, peer pressure, and, of course, the latchkey kids and the do- gooders, all unheard of in my younger days.

Unfortunately society itself has a lot for which it must answer, and a very permissive society at that.

I firmly maintain that parents/ guardians should face the same court in conjunction with their errant offspring, and share whatever punishment the court decrees. But, then again, pigs might also fly! DON MORRIS, Cranbrook.