School false alarms: 'There's no logic to what these yobs do'

How many times have we heard moans about the youth of today and their lack of respect? The implication all too often is that young people do not recognise their "elders and betters" and consequently don't bow down to them in the way that they should.

The reality, of course, is that the vast majority of our young people are sensible and sensitive, willing and able to play their part in wider society, through charity work, environmental activism and all kinds of other positive actions.

Yet the events of recent days in Edinburgh are a stark reminder that this is not the case across the board - and far from it when it comes to a small minority.

The setting off of fire alarms on average three times a day in city schools as a "prank" may seem at the lower end of the scale, but the consequence is the tying up of firefighters on pointless jobs and draining the service's already stretched budget.

Deliberately setting a school building alight and, especially, the slashing of hoses being used to put the blaze out are an entirely more serious matter again.

To the vast majority of people, this sort of behaviour is simply mind- boggling. Why on earth would someone want to attack the very people who they might one day have to rely on to save their own or their loved ones' lives?

There is, of course, no logical explanation for what these yobs do.

The sad truth is that there exists an element in today's society - and not just among young people - who have no respect for authority in any of its forms, whether that is firefighters, police or anyone else in a uniform.

This newspaper would not even begin to suggest we have all the answers to what is one of modern society's most persistent social problems. No-one does.

There are, however, things that we can do which may have some impact on impressionable young minds.

The first is that when those responsible for the fire- raising and subsequent vandalism are identified their punishment should be suitably severe. Hoax callers, when identified, must be made an example of, too. The other worthwhile step is educating children about the emergency services and what they do. A lot of valuable work is already being done in schools, but perhaps there is a case for doing more.