Wayland Van Hylkdick-Smith, of Newton Abbot, writes: Much as I agree with Cllr Gaskell, putting pressure on the police and governing bodies to take stronger action against yobs and thugs, I regret that one must go back to basics before this can ever be effective. What is the use of tutors who cannot keep a class in order because of the ridiculous laws, which say they can no longer use such as the cane to reprimand troublemakers? I was caned regularly and I am sure I am perfectly balanced and not, as a result, some sadistic, bullying pervert. Stop yelling about 'human rights', you earn rights, not have them free. What is the good of issuing a police Asbo when the child boasts about it as if it were a good conduct medal because his family, dysfunctional usually in the extreme, boasts a father either in prison or about to go back into prison, totally unable to give any parental guidance any more than the so-called 'single parent young girls' – I am sorry, every child has two parents, it takes, as they say, 'two to tango'. There are so many handouts making life easy for these irresponsible, uneducated young girls that they have no need, or wish, to learn to fend for themselves and face parental responsibility. How can you put down 'ground rules' when the ground the children function on is a shifting bed of quicksand. Why are children of 14-16 years of age allowed out on the streets until 1am and 2am? Where are the parents? Doing the same thing, no doubt. With no-one to look up to, no-one to guide them, is it any wonder they take to drugs, drink and smoking, trying it for a lark, and then, alas, finding it too late to withdraw from the habit. Until you can get at the base of society and drum some form of respect, responsibility and pride into them, all the policing in the world will not help. we shall merely start ruling by fear. remember a guy called Hitler? he did this. My generation had no youth, we surrendered it in our war service, but this sad generation have no childhood, being the victims of the electronic gadgetry age. all too much, too soon – no time to be children.
