A video showing a 14-year-old girl beating a peer in the presence of bystanders has alarmed parents’ associations, who blamed parents and children alike for delinquent behaviour.

“Unfortunately, things are getting worse,” parent association confederation president Loizos Constantinou told Sigma on Thursday.

Constantinou said delinquency starts earlier, particularly in early teens.

He pointed out, however, that although many cases were found in schools, it was not the schools that were cultivating delinquency.

“It is a broader issue. We saw those scenes of violence […] and people watching as if they were at a match,” he added.

Constantinou said legislation was not being fully implemented regarding clashes among children.

“After much pressure, a circular was sent for committees to be set up in schools and in may cases they have never convened. We have a responsibility as a society, as a state and as parents. I don’t want to let the children off, but the first who are responsible are the adults,” he said.

“First of all we are to blame as parents.”