TWO depressing examples of how juvenile nuisance and vandalism continues to blight the lives of East Lancashire communities are contained in our reports tonight.

In Hyndburn, gravestones have been kicked over in the second instance of cemetery vandalism in a week and householders in a Rossendale neighbourhood are too scared to leave their homes at night as a gang of up to 40 abusive young wreckers -- some aged only seven -- menaces people and property.

It is evident that an increased and accelerated introduction of the bobbies on the beat that East Lancashire has been promised is needed to deal with this persistent bane -- in order to hound and deter the louts who are upsetting so many people.

ButEven so, it has to be accepted that the police cannot be everywhere at once -- and that the real responsibility for dealing with juvenile bad behaviour lies in the home. And where unconcern or unwillingness among parents about their children's activities and attitude exists, should not they be penalised for it?

We have already seen one social housing landlord in East Lancashire threatening parents with eviction if their children behave badly. And the promising results of that threat call for it to be widespread.

Now, the Government has unveiled proposals to cut the benefits of people who makes their neighbours' lives a misery and perhaps the time has come to extend the scheme to those whose children are culprits also.