It is absolutely unacceptable that a 200-strong mob can go on the rampage in west Belfast, causing widespread disorder and mayhem.
Some of the large crowd which gathered at the site of the derelict Brook Lodge bar on the Summerhill estate in Twinbrook on Saturday night were as young as 13.
When police arrived they were attacked with missiles while, according to local Sinn Fein MLA Jennifer McCann, youths at the scene were drinking, burning bins and blocking roads.
People passing by were attacked with bottles and fireworks and the derelict bar was set on fire, forcing nearby residents to leave their homes.
According to local people, this sort of trouble has become a regular occurrence.
It is appalling that residents sitting in their own homes on a Saturday night are subjected to this sort of frightening and inexcusable conduct.
Sinn Fein has accused the police of failing to deal with the mob or putting in place a plan of action to address the situation.
Following a meeting yesterday, it now appears a plan will be implemented, something that has to be welcomed and hopefully will ease what is an increasingly worrying problem.
However, while the police and community organisations have a key role to play in resolving this issue, parents quite clearly have to take responsibility for the behaviour of their children.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw pointed out that many of the young people gathering at Twinbrook at weekends had travelled from other neighbourhoods to ``get involved in anti-social behaviour.''
Many of the young people converging on this site are in their early teens and it is essential their parents know where they are. Apart from one 17-year-old being arrested, two teenagers had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
Unfortunately, Twinbrook was not the only part of west Belfast experiencing anti-social behaviour at the weekend.
Three cars, one reportedly belonging to an on-call nurse, were set on fire in the St James's area in the early hours of Sunday.
Vandals were blamed for the arson attacks which are believed to be part of a wider problem.
It is disgraceful that districts are being blighted by this type of criminal conduct.
People are entitled to live in peace and quiet and not left terrified or inconvenienced by young thugs out to cause trouble.
This upsurge in criminality must be tackled with young people left in no doubt that attacks on residents, police or property will have serious consequences.
