Published at 14:55, Monday, 17 January 2011

What a sad reflection of our society was described on your front page (Times & Star, December 30).

Two stories of the misery caused to decent people over years by a very small minority of totally selfish, irresponsible wasters.

I would bet a week’s wages that those responsible for five years of trouble at Salterbeck were having at least part of their housing paid for by some of their hard-working, tax-paying neighbours.

The police say they take matters such as this very seriously and I’m sure they try to, yet it took five years to resolve. Why?

No doubt those causing all the trouble are well versed in their rights, and yet probably have no concept of responsibility.

In my mind the two go together. Yes people have rights, but along with those go responsibility to others in society. If you are going to ignore your responsibilities you should expect to lose your rights.

Having caused such problems they should not get any further help from the state. If that makes them homeless, so be it.

I live near a convicted drug dealer, and there are cars coming and going at all hours of the day, or, more usually, night.

The police say they need “intelligence” so I ring up with details of cars, even having seen deals being done outside my window.

But it starts to affect your health, not sleeping properly because of the cars and their dogs barking at 4am.

The police sometimes come by and park the big video surveillance van down the road.

But guess what? Nobody calls while it’s there.

David Cameron talked about fixing broken Britain, but until more is done to isolate the mindless yobs who cause such distress and ensure that law-abiding, tax-paying, decent people stop having to pay to house them, the issue cannot be resolved.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk