Who needs to read about terrorism abroad when it is happening on our doorstep every day of our lives?

Where I live in Woodthorpe I need to wear body armour to visit the local supermarket.

The reason for that is the constant barrage of abuse and threats of violence one receives from the young thugs who sometimes loiter around that area. Their local sport is breaking bottles, upsetting litterbins and throwing flour at the poor unfortunates who get in their way.

I can almost hear you agreeing that this sounds like your area too. York's surrounding district has become a no-go zone at night. The police however call this non-urgent crime. It seems that this non-urgent crime is the reason why many elderly people are terrified to go out at night.

Non-urgent crime can be likened to a leaking tap that you know you'll fix but never do, until it becomes a major flood.

The blame for the rise of this type of terrorism can be laid firmly at the door of the police, judges and MPs, who are all too ready to turn a blind eye to this sort of thing, while giving their sanitised excuses. As ratepayers and customers are we getting a raw deal?

Phil Shepherdson,

Chantry Close,

York.

Updated: 11:05 Tuesday, November 13, 2001