IREFER to the article in the Bolton Evening News on Wednesday, January 18, concerning anti-social behaviour and the response by the local Police Inspector, Simon Miskell:

'the park is a new location for the youths to gather but they have to gather somewhere. I would rather it be there than on the streets'.

I cannot believe someone in his position appears to be condoning drunken yobbish behaviour and damage.

We have read articles over the past months about how the police are cracking down on underage youths drinking on the streets.

Is it official Greater Manchester Police policy to just remove the problem from the streets, being happy for it to be displaced to 'out of sight locations' or is it a local policy created by the Westhoughton Inspector?

This attitude to the problem raised also appears to cut across the recently heralded 'Respect' policy launched by the Prime Minister.

Could Inspector Miskell explain why he thinks the youths in Hall Lee Bank Park should not respect that environment or the residents' entitlement to a quiet existence?

Not only does he send the wrong message to youths intent on creating a nuisance, it shows a lack of leadership to his officers who patrol the streets and who we rely on to deal effectively with the problems that affect our daily lives.

Peter Sloan

Bankside

Westhoughton