IT is said that it takes a whole community to rear a child. In the light of trends in children’s behaviour and lifestyles in recent times, the time has come when the community must take its responsibilities seriously. A city centre is no place for 13-year-olds at 10.30pm. In fact in the light of sad experience it is probably the worst possible place to be.

THE current controversy over skateboarding raises fundamental questions about the way we manage and maintain our public civic spaces.