Two instances have emerged this week that put a different complexion on this weathered problem.

Centre Vale skate and BMX park in Todmorden has had more than £1,000 damage caused to its rails and ramps in sustained attacks by vandals, rendering it unsafe.

Still more acts of senseless vandalism are blighting Mixenden Children's Centre. Now even the "willow" garden, a favourite with the youngest of those who use its facilities, has been wrecked. And here's the paradox.

While nobody has been caught, it is perfectly reasonable from what has been said to assume those responsible are young people.

Which means youngsters are destroying the very facilities provided to occupy their minds.

But what possible reason can they have, no matter how young and stupid, for causing such wanton damage?

It cannot just be boredom. So is it really that this small proportion of ne'er-do-wells derive some strange pleasure from depriving others of the things they like to do?

The damage in Todmorden has spurred Calderdale Council playgrounds manager Chris Holroyd to remove the ramps and close the area, which is a blow to those young people who were sanding down their boards and oiling the wheels of their bikes in preparation for the warmer weather.

The root cause can never be solved until the real trouble causers and those who emulate them are taught the error of their ways. Catching them is another thing.

Maybe the increasing numbers of community police officers and more CCTV cameras throughout Calderdale will make that possible.