The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) has urged Government to re-table the Parental Responsibility Act it put before Parliament in 1998 in a bid to clamp down on bad behaviour of children.

Shadow Education Minister Cole Simons said following the serious stabbing of a security officer at CedarBridge Academy last week, the UBP had no doubts that severe steps needed to be taken to make parents more accountable.

He said the UBP tabled the Parental Responsibility Act in the House of Assembly on July 6, 1998, but it failed to come to fruition due to a change in Government later that year.

But yesterday, Mr. Cole said it was time to re-visit the legislation.

He said: "Having sat back and observed the effects of the recent tragic stabbing event at CedarBridge Academy, the United Bermuda Party believes more than ever that parents and family members at our schools need to be comforted.

"As a parent, like other parents, we need to be satisfied that when we send our children to school they are in a safe and productive environment.

"We, as parents, cannot be held hostage by the few young people who are causing hell in this country. It is time for the parents of these youngsters to take their roles seriously."

And he said the UBP believed that anti-social behaviour had reached such high levels, it required drastic measures.

He added: "The United Bermuda party believes that this PLP Government must reintroduce and re-table the Parental Responsibility Act.

"This act makes parents financially responsible for bodily damage and property loss, caused as a result of our children's intentional or wilful behaviour.

"As far as I'm concerned, we have talked enough, and if people cannot and will not assume responsibility for the behaviour of their young people then they must be held liable for the damages - the damages which arise as a result of their children's behaviour."

Education and Development Minister Paula Cox would not comment yesterday on Mr. Simons' comments, but she has previously stated her intention to make parents more responsible for their children's actions.

During the budget debate, Ms Cox said she was considering the possibility of new legislation that would set out the responsibilities of parents, which could lead to consequences if they repeatedly failed in their roles.

And she said the legislation could be similar to that already in place regarding school attendance. Parents who fail to ensure their children attend school regularly can be taken to court and fined, and ultimately, they can have their children taken off them and put into care, instead.

But Mr. Simons added: "I am very pleased to see the Minister of Education is considering the introduction of legislation that sets out clearly a parent's responsibility.

"She ought not reinvent the wheel. and encourage her Cabinet colleagues to re-examine the Parent Responsibility Act, which was tabled by us in the House of Assembly in 1998."