Welwyn Garden City youngsters running wild

Sir - My wife and myself recently visited the shopping parade at Woodhall. We were greeted with the sight of a confrontation between street wardens, a female PCSO, and several youngsters.

A local bystander explained the reason for this confrontation. Apparently the youngsters had been to the rear of the shops, and within the residential area had 'water bombed' local residents,and their property, and had been making a very unwelcome presence.

The water bombing, (balloons filled with water) could have been received with a sense of humour by onlookers, but not by the local residents, and the retailers in the area.

We were appalled by the arrogant display by some of the youngsters involved while they were being questioned (very civilly I might add) by the wardens and the PCSO.

A complete lack of respect was very apparent, and even involved two actually walking away while being talked to. These youngsters were apparently well known to the street wardens and the PCSO, who had been called numerous times to Woodhall, even late at night, to try and stop these 'children' being unwelcome nuisances.

Several of the elderly residents are scared to go out at night because of these youngsters, whose average age turned out to be 13.

How do the courts try to stop these youngsters being a repeating nuisance? Give them community work (they don't turn up), asbos and being 'tagged' are treated as badges of honour by youngsters throughout the country.

Where are the parents late at night while their children are out running riot? The threat of being sent to an American style boot camp might be beneficial to these youngsters, and be a blessing to local residents.

The old adage of 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' should have included 'And watch our youngsters go running wild'.

Let's make the punishment fit the crime.

Name and address withheld