IT is easy to be brave from the comfort of an easy chair or from behind an office desk, in the case of Angela Kelly (Bolton Evening News, August 11).

But standing up to yobs can cost you dearly, as residents on many estates in Bolton, and in many other towns and cities, know only too well.

Angela says the yobs who attack the vulnerable are basically gutless. Well, gutless perhaps. Brainless definitely. And brainless yobs are dangerous!

These are the idiots who throw bricks through the windows of houses occupied by those brave enough (or daft enough) to confront them, then boast openly about doing so. They defy residents, knowing they have the protection of outdated laws and do-gooders that allow them to stick a middle digit up to anyone who confronts them.

They know they can do whatever they like, including smashing windows, damaging cars, physically and verbally abusing residents, just as long as the police do not actually see them - and there is very little chance of that.

But, should a resident retaliate, then the law acts quicker than you can say "legal aid solicitor", and the victim becomes the villain, while the idiots laugh at the police and at all decent people in general.

The police, in the main, know who these yobs are, but are powerless to act on hearsay.

The idiots are taking the mickey and will continue to do so until we have laws that actually protect decent people.

We must have more police on the beat. We need estate wardens - volunteers if need be - in direct contact with the police and armed with camcorders. We need them now, pronto!

I have never been afraid to stand up and be counted, but I am afraid now. Afraid for the safety of decent people who are powerless to defend themselves and their property against these lawless louts, most of whom are still children. Afraid, too, for the future, while schools continue to turn out young villains and the buck continues to be passed.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton