Samantha, Seattle - I think the chav's are being condemned for (1) murdering an innocent person and (2) previous serious illegal behaviour such as assault, rather than 'not meeting the status quo'

Sarah, ex pat, Sydney, Australia

How can you condemn the chavs who beat Sophie Lancaster to death for not fitting in with the status quo, and then go right on to deride others - transexuals and Islam - in the same column? You have no room to take the moral high ground on Sophie when disdainful attitudes like yours toward people who don't conform to your personal lifestyle only serve to validate and foster that kind of bigotry.

Samantha, Seattle, USA

I live in Mississippi and from what I've observed my whole life this tends to be true as a general rule. Of course there are exceptions, as is true of any race. I don't know why political correctness and the appeasement of certain groups of people became a priority over truthfulness in the U.S., but the future doesn't look good. Someone said that Africa is poor and there isn't any unity there, and this accounts for the disparity between the races, but how long have they had to organize and establish a prosperous continent? Surely as long as Europe right? So, what can the gap be attributed to? I'm not hateful, but these things muct be examined.

Michael, greenville, ms

Once again I am sickened by an act of such evil. The boys who committed this crime should be made to pay and confront what they have done. The law in this country is an ass and the Government should act now to make a difference. There is no real deterant anymore, prison holds no fear for these scum, ASBOs are badges of honour and the criminals are aware that they have more rights than the victims.

I am against the death penalty but there needs to be punishment to fit the crime. I also agree with other comments regarding parental responsibility - where were they? Parents should be helped to parent by society that accepts discipline as an essential part of parenting skills. Good manners and understanding right from wrong are basics which should be instilled from birth by parents and schools.
With human rights come responsibilities, if you commit a crime you should lose your human rights until the crime is paid for. To call these people animals is an insult to the anim

Sally Ann, Wallingford, OXON

As Carter points out, the basis of discipline is fear. It would be going too far to say that civilisation is held together by fear; most of us both see and feel the benefits of cooperation and mutual respect. But there is always a sizeable minority inclined to parasitism and crime. They cannot be restrained except through the threat of force. If, as the do-gooders insist, "violence solves nothing", why do all societies have police and armed forces? If I refuse to pay my taxes (for instance), a process of escalation will culminate in police trying to arrest me. If I resist, eventually I would be overpowered or killed. That is the sanction on which our entire society is founded. Likewise, if foreign attackers sought to enslave or harm us, our armed forces would resist them by violence. Why then are we foolish enough to renounce force when it comes to bringing up children and enforcing the law?

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

It would be most interesting to know the cancellation policy and charges relating to the late withdrawal of the Queen to host her party at the Ritz for her diamond wedding anniversary celebrations!

Anne Rawlings, Leicestershire, uk

Rod Liddle put his finger on the button. The Police, School Teachers and now Parents, have been denuded of exercising physical control children and young people on the pretext that 'violence begets violence'. What a lot of tosh. The type of person who either shows tendencies, or behaves in this sort of violent way has respect for one thing only - a force which is greater than anything he can offer. Violence does not beget violence; but legally imposed non-violence of any sort, under all circumstances, most certainly begets violence.

abe, Manchester,

The basis of discpline is fear. At least half the purpose of punishment is so to frighten people with the certainty and severity of punishment if they offend as to stop them doing so.
With the collapse of religious belief, reliance on the retribution dished out by an all-knowing God has evaporated. The succession of HM prison inpectors,social workers and Do-gooders have excoriated punishment. Time in prison has become enforced stay in low grade hotels. The Goverment's
early release solution to over-crowding is the latest surrender to indiscipline.
Punishment for all forms of violence and theft should be very painful and unpleasant with conviction certain and rapid if discipline is to be restored to society.

Carter, Berkhamsted, UK

'too thick to possess a conscience or a sense of right and wrong'

You surely don't mean that, Rod; most mentally handicapped people are capable of distinguishing right and wrong.

It might be more valid to say she is too thick to resist the influence of a culture shaped, over the last 40-odd years, by very clever people who believe right and wrong are shifting social constructs.

Alan, Cambridge,

It has become virtually impossible to do anything with the type of yob that goes around kicking people to death. it is, as a consequence, now as good as acceptable for such behavior to take place. Why? I suppose because of a lethal (that is, lethal to society) combination of liberal "hug a hoddie" attitude mixed up with the Human Rights act and political correctness (we can't blame the yobs because of their circumstances, and we can't blame the parents because of their circumstances), and possibly also the Law which still, (despite government apparent attempts to the contrary) tends to fall against anyone trying to intervene to stop any such yob from what ever evil act they might be doing, so, yes the yobs are very much most of the time well and truly safely above the law. We need a really serious change of approach to dealing with antisocial behavior and we need it now, without delay.

Hall, Sheffield, UK

The boys who murdered Sophie should be locked away for a very long time. Their parents should also be charged with gross neglect of their offsprings. These people are definitely below par and should never be allowed to raise children. Unfortunately there are too many feral children running around in London and elsewhere and no one seems to want to do anything about it.

Tip, bristol, england

Until society accepts that although everyone in society can be given a change irregardless of background, those that spit in society's face require removal from society initially for a long time, failing that working permanently.

Between the Navy and the Army there used to be a method for utilising such individuals "scum of the earth" as the Duke of Wellington described them.

Proper sentencing would be hard labour either in the UK or abroad where even those with animalistic intelligence can learn that obeying laws are preferable to a 10 hour shift undergoing menial labour; if that fails to motivate them, perhaps Land mine clearance in Angola might provide a solution.

Richard, London, England