IT was just another typical Sunday stroll around Foxwood. To my right was a badly vandalised lady's bike dumped on a snicket path and then further along to my left, a boy's bike. These pathways make convenient bolt-holes for thieves and vandals to melt into.

At the side of the rugby field was a burnt-out motorbike. Vandals aged about 12 were busy smashing up the smouldering remains against a tree.

I couldn't help but think that their owners would have felt considerable heartache. Was it so far into the mists of time that there was respect for other people's property and decent family values? Perhaps Foxwood is not unique?

Once upon a time (so long ago I disbelieve it really happened), an old-fashioned bobby on the beat would patrol these areas and help curb this mindless behaviour. These days, however, the police can only be seen on race days.

Do we have to live in an age where a typical Sunday stroll reflects the type of society we have sunk into?

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe,

York.

...COUNCIL leader Steve Galloway stated that "Acomb is generally a safe and nice place to live". Not too many years ago I would have agreed.

But having lived in the Acomb area almost 40 years, I have witnessed its deterioration rapidly of late. We now have to lock all doors just to go into the garden, for fear of sneak thieves. I find myself constantly on my guard while shopping for fear of muggers, on foot or cycle.

Young people discard drink cans, sweep wrappers, carrier bags, on to the streets, and if anyone objects they are subjected to a barrage of foul language.

Acomb, sadly, is not alone in its problems. The same is happening in every suburb of York, plus every area of England.

Putting more police on the streets will not solve England's shameful spiral into anarchy and crime. The fault lies in a myriad of things, not least in our ridiculous justice system where magistrates and judges are incapable of making the punishment fit the crime.

It lies in the Government's undermining of marriage and family values where once parents were responsible for the actions of their offspring.

It lies in the do-gooder brigade who fail to accept that children need discipline and rules from both parents and teachers, so as to learn respect for themselves and other people while growing up.

The police can only tackle the end result of bad parenting. They cannot be expected to be present while every act of crime or vandalism is being perpetrated. But we do expect them to turn up afterwards and take it seriously.

Things can only get worse unless something is done now.

Name and address supplied.

...POLICE say they are reclaiming the streets of York (September 4). The question is why they were lost in the first place?

Could the police authorities explain why this situation has arisen? Is it due to lack of police officers, lack of funding or incompetence on behalf of the force where the rights of the burglars, muggers and drug dealers seem to take precedence over the rights of the victims and the general public?

TJ Ryder,

Priory Gardens,

North Lane,

Dringhouses, York.

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, September 10, 2003