Newton Emerson: Parental responsibility, utility bills and a rotating cast at the NIO

Police, politicians and community workers have called for parents to take responsibility for their children following serious disorder in west Belfast.The extent to which parents can be held responsible in these situations is a vexed legal and ethical question - what if they are doing their best, yet still failing?Northern Ireland and Britain are taking divergent paths on this issue. England and Wales have had parenting orders since 2000, with Scotland joining them five years later. Courts can compel parents to address a child’s behaviour through conditions such as ensuring they are at home during certain hours. Failure to comply is a criminal offence with a £1,000 fine.Use of parenting orders declined over the past decade as many professionals consider them ineffective or counterproductiv