Parish P.c. John Lynch-Wade delivered a challenge yesterday to parents to visit the city bus terminal one afternoon to see what their children were up to after school.

The dedicated constable for Devonshire, who befriended the Devon Springs youth in their row with neighbours, believes many parents today do not know what their children do from 3.30 p.m. on.

"I've often wondered what would happen if parents went down to the bus terminal to see their child -- if they just monitored the situation and saw which child was theirs and what they were doing,'' said P.c. Lynch-Wade, who supervises the Hamilton Bus Terminal as part of his duties.

Certain teenagers hung out at the terminal all afternoon until the last bus that would get them home before their parents, he said.

Other youngsters went "from hang-out to hang-out'', starting at the city bus stop.

"Too many kids today are being allowed to just hang out,'' he said. "It's worldwide. When I was young I hung out on a wall, but we had to keep the noise down and be home at a reasonable hour.'' P.c. Lynch-Wade, who Devonshire South MP the Hon. David Saul has called a "pied piper'' to the Devon Springs youth, has worked in other troubled neighbourhoods in his 12 years on the Bermuda Police Force.

But the St. Kitts national felt the message from the Devon Springs situation was clear -- "If you raise (children) that way, that's the way they are going to be.'' However, he felt the neighbourhood could be an example to the Island if the problem could be resolved.

Hanging out on walls and in the street was unique to Devon Springs Lane, he pointed out.

"If Devon Springs can do it, it can be done,'' he said.

Residents and youngsters sitting down together as they did on Tuesday night was a big step toward resolution, he said.

A number of parents had signed up to supervise the teenagers at St. Brendan's recreation centre.

They in turn agreed to submit a proposal on their ideas for the centre and the possibility of being given a building on the premises as a clubhouse.

P.c. Lynch-Wade said that when he first took up the responsibility of parish constable in Devonshire in February he was viewed with suspicion by the much-complained about teenagers who hung out on the wall opposite St.

Brendan's Hospital.

"I felt the best way to tackle the problem was not with a heavy, hard-handed approach. But to meet with them and see what causes them to react the way they do,'' he said.

"I believe I was able to establish a rapport with them so they didn't see me as the enemy, but as someone who has a job to fulfil. A guardian of the law.'' While he did not condone their behaviour or their hanging out on the wall, he was reluctant to "throw all the blame at the kids''.

"Personally, I think it stems from insufficient guidance -- being allowed too much freedom without direction. Their behaviour is based on what they see when they grow up.'' P.c. Lynch-Wade added: "If we allow them to continue doing what they are doing there will eventually be a major problem there. The idea is to stop it while it is in its early stages,'' he said.

Police, however, could not stop them from hanging out on the street if they were not engaging in illegal activities.

The answer was in proper parenting. "The question is where are the parents and why are they allowing their children to hang out?,'' he asked.

FRIEND OF THE YOUTH -- P.c. John Lynch-Wade.