IT is the certainty of detection that deters criminals, which is why most of us feel reassured by policies that introduce more police on to the streets.

The trouble is, as many crime detection professionals advise, a greater police presence isn't necessarily a foolproof fix. CCTV and new technology both have major parts to play in making our streets safer.

But people think that without a physical police presence the streets are unsafe. Politicians should respond to this anxiety and give them what they need. Peace of mind.

Michael Howard's announcement that more prisons will be built under the next Conservative government makes sense too. There is no point detecting crime if those convicted have their sentences reduced because there is no place for them to serve their time.

What your feature 'Crime busters or blusters' (August 13) didn't fully examine was what type of city does York want to grow as?

York's drug and youth culture shames us all. We have to challenge the parents who let their children roam the streets in big gangs intimidating passers by.

We all have to oppose behaviour that, for instance, allows drug abusers to shoot up in the car park near Sainsbury's on Foss Island, or Dick Turpin's graveyard, which is now positively hazardous.

Zero tolerance of second best is everyone's responsibility. Not just the police. We live in a world-class city, the place deserves no less than that we leave it a better place than we found it.

Next time you see anti-social behaviour, report it. Show you love York.

Clive Booth,

York Conservative parliamentary candidate,

Ash Street,

York.

Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, August 18, 2004