THE excellent, if somewhat sad, letter from Nigel Hughes (Chronicle, July 9), expresses what many of us feel about the areas in which we live.

As parents seem to have lost the art of parenting, schools not allowed to administer punishment, the only answer to our problems, which seem most to involve the bad behaviour of young people, is more police on the beat.

This will cost money. As a pensioner, my finances are stretched to the limit. The old song says, ‘The rich get richer and the poor get poorer’, how true.

I have not seen a police officer actually on the beat for years. But I am sure this would act as a deterrent.

Unfortunately, the law seems to have become so lenient that cyclists can kill and just receive a fine; a teenager, obviously determined on a life of crime, given a conditional discharge and small fine. It does not make sense – particularly when OAPs go to prison for non-payment of Council Tax. Why not dock the money weekly from their pension?

More coppers please, both on the street and in our pockets.

Jane Meadows

Northwich