THE story of the double mugging of a 92-year-old woman (October 31) is nothing short of a national disgrace and we should all be completely ashamed of ourselves for allowing such a bestial "man" to be allowed to walk our totally unsafe streets.

When liberal attitudes first began to have serious effects upon our society, particularly in the so-called "swinging Sixties", there were many of us with much higher values and standards of behaviour who forecast a decline in the general moralities.

Not only has such a decline occurred, but the behaviour of an ever-increasing minority of younger people has plumbed depths unimaginable even to the most pessimistic of us.

If there is anyone reading this who would dispute my contention that the beast who attacked a 92-year-old lady, once, never mind twice, deserves to be flogged very hard, along with plenty of others who feature regularly in the Press and are guilty of similar acts of utter bestiality, I would like them to justify their case.

PS Fowler,

Bramble Dene,

Woodthorpe, York.

...IN response to your report about Scott Ensbury being used as a football by the scum and cowards in our city (October 29): how long do we have to put up with thugs like this?

Night after night there seems to be a report of people being attacked by these morons.

I am a 36-year-old former soldier, and even in the last few years York seems to be on a downward slide.

I hate these people. They are a scourge on our society.

Not all young people are bad, but there seems to be a growing number of them with a lack of respect for anything or anyone.

Is it going to get to the stage where it's not worth going out on a night, because even if the police get them they are back on the streets in a matter of hours?

The sad fact is Scott got away with a beating, next time somebody else may not be so lucky. It's high time these thugs were given the punishment they deserve.

G Allinson,

The Green,

Raskelf,

York.

...I AM sure I am not the only reader to be shocked by the photograph of Doug Unwin (October 24).

York seems to be suffering from a huge rise in yob culture whilst the police and council appear powerless to stop these mindless thugs.

In the past month I have had my car windows smashed, the windows of my business premises vandalised and even the step to my shop damaged by skate boarding youths and I know I am not alone.

None of these crimes has been reported to the police as I feel there is no point.

These events, whilst costly and annoying, pale into insignificance when you realise Doug Unwin will see the scar on his face every day for the rest of his life.

Something has to be done.

If City of York Council poured the same amount of resources into crime prevention as they do on the parking warden scheme we would live in a very different city.

We all pay huge amounts for the service of the police and the council and what do we have to show for it? It makes me seethe when yet more money is poured into schemes to rehabilitate young offenders.

If the scheme would like to send one of these louts to my shop I will offer them an insight into running a small business that will include clearing up broken glass, cleaning vomit from our doorway, scrubbing graffiti from paintwork, and removing take away food smeared onto windows. Any takers? I doubt it.

After all it may contravene the poor darlings' human rights!

Joy Plaskitt,

Plaskitt & Plaskitt,

Monkgate,

York.

Updated: 11:58 Monday, November 03, 2003