With reference to the letter "Park was safe 40 years ago" (name and address supplied) where a woman had been strolling through the park and saw a yob vandalising a tree. When she spoke to him, he retaliated with threatening behaviour and she had to push him away for her own protection. Consequently, the woman was threatened with prosecution for "striking" the yob. Well, that's the thanks you get for being a good citizen who cares about the environment!

This is a typical example of the behaviour that stems from a lack of parental discipline in these times of political correctness, which incidentally is a load of balderdash!

The old ways are best, my cousin and I had a strict upbringing and were both smacked as and when necessary. We have had good jobs and have kept out of trouble.

However, there are too many do-gooders, such as "the yoghurt knitting brigade" alias Social Services, who spend a substantial proportion of council tax payers' money and waste much of it bending over backwards to help and make ridiculous excuses for the scum of society, such as arsonists, muggers, rapists, shop-lifters and vandals etc! They also harass innocent people, often on the strength of nothing more than unfounded malicious gossip (hearsay) and police prejudice towards certain individuals.

All too often the victims of crime are soon forgotten, while the perpetrators receive counselling, rehabilitation and more! The justice system is ludicrous, typically five years for murder, 10 to 15 years for forging a few postage stamps!

Les D Bartholomew

Ockham Drive

St Pauls Cray

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.