I SYMPATHISE absolutely with recent correspondents who are having problems with roaming youths. I live in Heywood and have had my car vandalised seven times.

The police always seem to have an excuse for not doing anything, such as their hands being tied or that the incident occurred on private property, such as a car park. What do the police do other than put speed cameras up and spot-check innocent citizens?

Crime is said to be down but that is only because people cannot be bothered reporting it any more. Nothing is ever done to the culprits, even if they are caught.

Laws today in this country just protect the criminal and humiliate law-abiding members of the public. These tearaways know the law and know whatever they do they will effectively be let off. There is simply no deterrent whatsoever.

Things can only get worse and we will end up with vigilante groups or private security firms. So why are we paying the police portion of the council tax?

I work at night in a petrol station. If I have a "drive-off" (a customer filling up and leaving without paying) all I do is ring the police for a crime number. They don't turn out for "drive-offs" any more. But I have to fill in a witness form after my shift, in my own time, which takes half-an-hour and I don't get paid for it!

That is one reason why people don't report crime any more. It is made too inconvenient for the victims!

DISHEARTENED

CITIZEN