I WAS saddened, but not surprised, to read of the bad behaviour in your report (April 2).

I walk to work from the Barbican area to Clifton and back every day and see similar incidents on a regular basis. I see groups of youths and children throwing stones or spitting at cyclists and groups of tourists.

Aggressive drunks and beggars have to be negotiated. As many as five people will demand money from me.

Harassment from street drinkers and addicts is common.

Perhaps many people in authority in York do not walk through the city centre regularly and so are not aware of the extent of the problem.

This should be treated as what it really is - criminal behaviour. What can be done to protect the inhabitants of York and tourists? Wardens could be employed to patrol the city centre to deter such activity and to get in touch with the police where necessary.

They may also have a deterrent effect on the open drug dealing and aggressive begging taking place in the city streets.

Lynn Cotton,

Barbican Road, York.

...IT was distressing to read the reports and editorial about the lawless state of York's streets.

You ask what can be done about it and state the case for more police presence, but this is not the full answer. What happens after the thugs are caught? Serial offenders, habitual criminals, are given "'one last chance" time and time again.

What do they have to do to be given custodial sentences?

The answer to that is easy - commit fraud. As in the case of Mrs Charlotte McCulloch which was headlined earlier in the week in this paper.

This 61-year-old lady, who has worked tirelessly over the years raising thousands of pounds for St. Leonard's Hospice despite her own health problems, was in court for the first time charged with benefit fraud. Obviously she was considered a threat to the community because she was sentenced to 12 months in prison!

While not condoning what she did, I have to ask where is the justice? What purpose does this serve when there are career criminals walking free after their solicitors have pleaded such excuses as pregnant girlfriends, sick mothers to care for, etc?

What is happening to this country and the once admired justice system?

Paul Gledhill,

Acomb Wood Close,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, April 04, 2003