'Recreational rioting' resurgent in West Belfast

"They are not implacably opposed to each other - they were stopping in the middle of their fight to go across to each other and have a smoke break."

Implausible as it may sound, community workers on both sides of the Springfield Road insist that "recreational rioting" has become so casually regular that its participants occasionally enjoy friendly respite during their destructive orgies.

The road is scarred from two weeks of trouble - melted road signs and burnt patches of tarmac indicative of a fortnight where barely an evening has passed without a riot.

For the most part, stones and rocks are hurled but occasionally petrol bombs have been part of the deadly arsenal employed.

On Tuesday night, police arrested a 14-year-old boy after they tried to intervene and were themselves attacked.

It is part of a pattern of trouble across west Belfast in the past two weeks, which is again leaving police, statutory agencies and community groups scratching their head and wondering how to put a stop to this before six months of spring and summer.

Community

The prevailing wisdom is that strong community work is an essential part of the counter attack against the trouble.

And it is an approach that has been fruitful in many parts of the city.

But for Daniel Jack and Noel Large who work for Interaction Belfast along the Springfield Road, the more recent trouble presents a whole new challenge.

They say that many of the rioters are not even from the Springfield Road area but, after organising via their mobile phones and internet, are coming in from as far away as Divis on the nationalist side and from Springmartin and Highfield on the loyalist side.

Despite their origins they have plenty in common, according to Noel Large.

"They are not implacable enemies by any means. At times, when they are not shouting over at each other, they are actually congregating on the same side.

"There were nights when they were actually stopping in the middle of their fight to go across and have a smoke with each other."

Bongs

Not simply tobacco either, judging by the significant litter of plastic bottles or "bongs" which are used to smoke cannabis.

Such nihilistic existences are not merely threats to each other.

Many motorists from the expanse of west Belfast travel along the road on their way to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Daniel says that the hail of missiles potentially presents a mortal threat to motorists.

"We know that all it takes is for a driver to lost his concentration for a moment and someone is going to be seriously injured."

Trouble is also blighting another of the arterial veins that thrusts its way through west Belfast.

The Stewartstown Road is generally republican territory. The lack of nearby loyalists to clash with has not deterred some of its youthful residents who are content to fight amongst each other - and increasingly in the past couple of weeks with the PSNI.

Thuggery

Michael George, community safety officer with Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, says that the trouble began before Christmas with fights organised in local schools.

Now, the youthful ire - some involved are believed to be as young as 10 or 11 - is focused on the PSNI.

Michael George explains: "Some people have asked me whether this sort of behaviour is politically motivated. Well, if setting fire to traffic lights has anything to do with politics, it is not a kind of politics I have ever heard of. It's mindless thuggery.

"I've seen young people as young as 10 with full bottles of petrol and lighters. It's the first time they've been involved with anything like this and they are going to put themselves in danger."

Such trouble has been a feature in many parts of Northern Ireland for generations - despite significant resources being invested to deal with it.

The vogue is for a "multi-agency" approach with the police sharing responsibility with safety groups and community workers - basically dealing with the problem as much as a social issue as a matter of security.

Determination

Nevertheless Michael George suggests that the police have more to do.

He said: "After Christmas, the police sat back and waited for more resources and it allowed the thing to build and grow momentum when they could have got in and nipped it in the bud."

He accepts though that other groups, including schools and parents, have a role to play.

And parents are firmly within the police's focus as well.

PSNI Inspector Mark Robinson said his officers are determined to bring the trouble to an end.

He added: "The actions of a minority are in stark contrast to the efforts of police and fire personnel whose only concerns are ensuring the safety of local people and upholding law and order.

"We would thank local representatives who have been working with police to address these incidents. That work is ongoing at multi-agency and community level.

"We would urge parents to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing."