IN response to 16-year-old John F Bargh (Letters, September 26), while I realise he is a very young man who evidently has never studied the history of this country, I would remind him that people of this country made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives in pursuit of freedom.

Mr Bargh talks of "prevention rather than punishment and this issue would solve itself." I doubt very much whether he has any idea of the problems faced in inner city areas, or has experienced poverty or deprivation.

Well, to enlighten him, yobs walk our street day and night. They not only think they can behave as they wish, they can behave exactly as they wish. This includes committing crimes such as burglary, drug dealing and even murder.

Wake up, Mr Bargh -- the key here is deterrence and there is none!

ALAN OSBORNE (Ex-member of HM Forces), Gorse Road, Blackburn.