I AM tired of people such as A P Cox churning out the same negative stereotypes of the younger generation that make it sound like everyone under 25 robs old people and commits crime (Readers' Letters, July 16).

Mr Cox seems to have a rosy view of his childhood in the 1960s. It's obvious that decade was a crime-free haven of bliss and innocence where no crime was committed by young people, no drugs were taken (drugs - in the 1960s? You must be joking!) and everyone respected their elders.

Clearly the Sunday night crime drama Heartbeat is misrepresenting a whole decade and ITV should be treated on the same scale as the BBC's mis-editing of the Queen.

Not every young person today is innocent and I agree that discipline in parents and schools is lacking. While some young people do commit the crimes Mr Cox describes, they are far outweighed by the law-abiding young people like myself who do their education, have hobbies and respect their friends, families and the public in general.

Mr Cox seems to fail to realise that, although there may be more crime today for a number of reasons, there is one big reason why there seems to be more crime.

Back in the 1960s, news wasn't as readily available, whereas today someone only has to sneeze in the wrong place and the media reports it. There is not more crime, but it is more readily reported.

After all, who would want to read about headlines such as Teenager Joins Choir when headlines such as Hoodie Destroys Cars is such a more satisfying read for the populus?

Mr Cox believes that Stamford Bridge is atypical. It is, but neither is a street where lots of crime is committed by young people typical of the UK.

Philip Lickley, Wheatlands Grove, York.


* I FEEL AP Cox is, perhaps, a little harsh in his/her condemnation of my observation about young people of today not being a great deal different from our' days of the 1960s.

The people I was referring to were in their mid-twenties/early thirties, as were the people I was referring to in the 1960s.

I have no doubt that there was a similar thuggish element, similar to today, around in the 1960s who went around causing all kinds of mayhem (but no stabbings!).

However, just like today, they tended to be in their early teens and, by the time they were in their twenties, the thirst for destroying things for no particular reason had been replaced by a more responsible attitude.

I imagine A.P. Cox is talking more about teen years as not many people I knew, in their twenties, used to go to church or youth-clubs.

We did worship at the altars of St. Samuel and St. John Smith if that counts.

Not only do I write to The Press, I most certainly do read it and take great pleasure in so doing.

Stamford Bridge is, indeed, a nice place to live but the party I attended was in an even more idyllic place, Ampleforth.

PA Roe, Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge.


* CAN I recommend that A.P. Cox finds a copy of The Who film Quadrophenia to see the alternative side of the 1960s. My 18 year old youf' goes to church, runs youf' groups and holiday clubs and is a Cub leader. Please stop believing all is bad with the world, it embitters the soul.

Romy Dunn, Acaster Lane,