I READ the article about the decision made by the Evening Press to reveal the names of known youngsters who vandalise and terrorise their neighbours ('Justice must be seen to be done', May 4), and wondered at the almost apologetic tone used.

What is wrong with naming and shaming those who make the lives of others a misery? Even better, photographs of these troublemakers could be displayed in shopping areas and anywhere else where ordinary people go about their daily lives.

These methods could make it easier to spot those who cause social problems, so if they do breach orders and dare to venture where they shouldn't, swift action can be taken to round them up.

However, I also believe that people accused of sexual crimes, especially in the cases of teachers, medical practitioners or youth workers, should never be named before actually being convicted, especially if the supposed crime took place years ago.

In a case of one person's word against another's, it is most unfair to make the accused known through the media because, more often than not, they are totally innocent and simply targets for spite and/or to line someone's pockets through false compensation claims. Heather Causnett,

Escrick Park Gardens,

Escrick,

York.

Updated: 10:56 Monday, May 10, 2004