THOSE who believe they know best tell us it is wrong to put young offenders in young offenders' centres, because, by putting young offenders with other young offenders, we create a situation where young offenders teach other young offenders how to become better -- or should that be worse -- young offenders.

These young offenders very quickly graduate to the adult offenders' centres, or, as we know them, prisons. In these places of higher education, these one-time young offenders learn quickly from the old lags and soon become hardened criminals.

Yes, I realise there are a lot of "young offenders", but that's a fact of life, not just in my letter.

Now the Judicial Studies Board have sent out a reference book suggesting magistrates and district judges discharge young offenders who they believe will not re-offend, and they suggest fines and paying compensation for those they don't think will re-offend.

And where do these people think these young offenders are going to get the money from to pay their fines?

Well, we who live in the real world can tell them -- from mugging old ladies, from burglaries, shop lifting and selling drugs.

But, now these boffins class these as crimes of "low seriousness", so these young offenders can continue to rob the elderly (or anyone else), steal from the corner shop, nick your car, and even drive carelessly in it, without fear of punishment.

It isn't the law that's an ass, it's those who make the laws who are the donkeys.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove, Bolton