Prevention, not punishment, is the cure

Youth worker Malcolm King

The fine is intended to deter other local youngsters from committing acts of vandalism.

The hearing was told that the group completely destroyed the wooden climbing frame, broke the slide in half and used an iron bar and saw on the equipment.

It meant that some of their own brothers and sisters lost the use of the playground during the school holidays.

But Malcolm King, the manager of The Venture - a local community project at Caia Park, one of Wrexham's biggest council estates - does not believe fines will deter other vandals.

Trouble

Mr King is not convinced that penalties have a vast effect on people.

Despite the UK having sent many youngsters into custody for criminal acts, most re-offended.

"Youngsters will only change their behaviour if they want to change their behaviour," he said.

"The real dilemma is how to get kids to feel that the facilities in a community are theirs.

"At The Venture, children are involved in the running of the centre, putting up fencing, landscaping, looking after the play structures and keeping the place clean.

Anti-social behaviour

"This has stopped local youngsters from vandalising the equipment because they have a sense of ownership in the place.

"If children are at a lose end, feel alienated, they will look to cause trouble. But prevention, not punishment, is the cure."

Wrexham police have been running a pilot scheme to crack down on nuisance teenagers.

In July, a 13-year-old boy from the area became the first person in Wales to be the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.