CHILDREN as young as 10 could be fined up to £40 if they fall foul of the law.

It's the latest move by Lancashire police to try and curb bad behaviour among youths.

The success of an on-the-spot fine scheme for adults has prompted police chiefs to try the scheme on children. Of course, many youngsters cannot afford £40 if they are caught vandalising property or abusing neighbours.

So it's the parents who will be asked to pay for their child's misdemeanours. If they don't, they could face a fine themselves.

No doubt some people will think this is draconian.

But it is unlikely police have taken the decision to use these new powers lightly.

That's because officers are swamped with complaints about unruly youths. Too often people say the youth of today have no respect for the law.

Many are even too scared to go to their local shop after dark, when they will have to run the gauntlet of abusive teens.

They call for a return to the days when a clip round the ear from the local bobby was enough to put bad children on the straight and narrow.

Whether or not people are guilty of looking at the past through rose-coloured spectacles is beside the point. It doesn't matter if today's children are less well behaved than previous generations or not.

What does matter is that many people have very real concerns. The police must be congratulated for taking a brave step - and one that could have led to widespread criticism - to try and ease these fears.