YOUR news item over graffiti (October 9) again highlights two major concerns: the ineffectiveness of the local police to prevent the ever-increasing rise in vandalism generall; and the lack of respect for people and their property amongst a sector of youths, who seem intent on transforming the city into a litter-ridden, graffiti-daubed ghetto.

In the space of five years or so, the rise in graffiti has been steady despite the efforts of the council - surely, the amount of CCTV present in the city should provide some evidence of the perpetrators?

This is a failure to deliver on the part of a number of public services funded by the taxpayer, and can only serve to damage the local economy in the long term.

Chris Howell,

Moor Close, Wheldrake, York.

...GRAFFITI is a contentious subject at the best of times but it isn't all mindless vandalism. Anyone who regularly rides the Bishopthorpe cycle path will know the A64 underpass smothered in graffiti and urban art.

Among the rubbish was a piece of work that was pure genius. The scene I admired consisted of a modern corporate cityscape of soulless office blocks with gridlocked streets. Heavy industrial plants belched clouds of smoke from a forest of chimneys.

Flying above was a squadron of aircraft bombing the offices and factories below. At the base of the picture just two little words: "Crap world".

Whoever the artist was certainly has something to say. We would do well to listen because if this is how our young see the society we have built for them then we have a problem.

Graham Horne,

Beech Avenue,

Bishopthorpe, York.

...NOW it's official: tourists are more important than residents. Coun Andrew Waller's statement: "For a tourist city it is very important to deal with graffiti" says it all.

City of York Council will happily take your council tax and business rates, but if you are not in a tourist area, the implication is crystal clear that you should expect a second-class service.

This has already been made clear by oft-documented diversion of street cleaning from the suburbs to the tourist centre of York.

Dr Duncan Campbell,

Albemarle Road, York.

Updated: 10:09 Monday, October 13, 2003