A mayor has urged for laws that will give parents the power to cane unruly children following the latest arrests on youths who reportedly went on a vandalism rampage.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor, John Bowler, said he believed the state should bring back corporal punishment so parents could discipline unruly children.

This came after four boys — three 13-year-olds and a 10-year-old were charged after they allegedly broke into Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School in Western Australia on Friday, and vandalised some of the school’s facilities, including 24 brand new classrooms, causing extensive damage just hours after the unveiling of the first stage of the $45 million redevelopment project.

The West Australian reported Mr Bowler saying:

“If the parents agreed that their son was getting out of control, that the court was only left with punishment and that was to send him off to juvenile detention, where too often they just go away and come back better criminals.

“Maybe as a circuit breaker the magistrates would have the authority, with the consent of the parents, to give the child a couple of whacks over the bum or the hand.

“It might turn the kid’s life around.”

The boys were arrested on Saturday night after they allegedly targeted another school and attempted to smash their way through the front door of a Target store.

The police were told the group had been unsuccessful and climbed onto the roof. The police then rushed to the store, arresting two teenagers in the car park while two others fled from the roof to a nearby construction site.

A police dog named Storm tracked a scent to an area under a building within the site. One boy was detained by Storm, who bit the child’s face and around the buttock and thigh area, while another 13-year-old boy surrendered himself.

The injured teen was taken to Kalgoorlie Hospital for treatment.

Police say they found items linking the boys to the break-in and vandalism at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School and also at Eastern Goldfields College.

A 10-year-old boy who was with the trio has been charged with aggravated burglary and stealing, and has been released into the care of a responsible adult.

Collectively, the four boys face 21 charges.

An education department spokeswoman said the damage at Eastern Goldfields College was minor and the school resumed as normal on Monday.

However, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School was closed for repairs on Monday.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk