Our current laws on disorder do not work

THERE have been a number of articles in the M.E.N. over the past year about out-of-control teenagers committing anti-social and criminal behaviour and terrorising neighbourhoods.

One hundred years ago, teenagers were fighting for our country, with many losing their lives in the process.

Today, we have dangerously out of control children and teenagers attacking the innocent – brave when in gangs but no doubt not brave enough to do what the teenagers of 1914-18 did.

Complaints regarding the misuse of fireworks have escalated, with even attacks on firefighters, and an end to their sale to the public is long overdue but pleas to do so are constantly ignored.

It is because there is no deterrent that such shocking and disgraceful behaviour is on the increase and will continue to escalate out of control until a stand is made.

Current laws on disorder, antisocial behaviour and other dangerous actions are obviously not working.

Either we urgently need new tougher laws to cope with 21st century behaviour problems which force judges to start handing out punishments that actually fit the crime, or people will resort to dealing with matters themselves.

It is astonishing how many times judges give people another chance even though they have committed many crimes and should have been locked up long ago.

And if the police can’t cope, bring in the Army, because until some drastic and severe action is taken to instil some discipline into thugs, then things will only get worse. Now might be a good time to bring back National Service. Observer, Moston