YOUR 100 Years Ago panel for September 5 about three York girls charged with stealing two pairs of shoes, then trying to pawn them for a pittance, gives one food for thought.

One then reflects on the 15-year old-youth appearing in the same paper in 2005 who has been ruled dangerous to society because of his criminal activities ('Locked up to protect the public...aged 15', September 5).

The reaction of the offenders on having been dealt with by the respective judiciary could not be more of a contrast. The girls and their parents showed genuine remorse and shame and probably would have learned their lesson and, hopefully, grown up to be responsible citizens.

On the other hand the youth, like many others of his ilk these days, shows total disregard and contempt for authority of any kind.

As a retired former juvenile bureau police officer my frequent visits to young offenders' homes, recidivists in particular, filled me with despair at times for their future prospects.

More than once the parents refused to believe their offspring were capable of misbehaviour and blamed society, with a parting shot: "I could never do anything with him or her anyway".

Playstations at £180 a time, mobile phones, insistence on the latest fashions in keeping with their peers, we are all caught up in this phenomenon of "I-must-have-it-now-at-all-costs".

Parents who struggle to make ends meet on a strict financial budget must be at the end of their tether.

It may well be that with Christmas festivities on the horizon and this consumer society in full cry, patience, understanding, love and affection takes a back seat and the credit card era is here to stay. Do we batten down the hatches before it's too late?

Keith Bowker,

Vesper Walk,

Huntington,

York.

Updated: 09:42 Thursday, September 08, 2005