It is clearly time to stop listening to the do-gooders who have encouraged this situation to develope across the whole country by restraining the police from taking strong action against ALL young criminals, not just the gun toters.

I've heard the term "zero tolerance" used often but never implemented. Let's be radical. Curfew, boot camp, stringent regime. Real deterents.

Current policies are like applying a warm poultice and an asprin to a life threatening injury when only major surgery would be effective.

Ken Rodford, Bedford, England

In the late 1990's, in the USA, Bill Clinton put through legislation that removed support from single mothers. he annoucned that one baby out of wedlock (or stable relationship could be an accident but two or more was utterly irresponsible and that State financial support would stop - the result? An almost immediate drop in illigimate births (most marked in Afro Crribean families) - too simple a solution for our craven "tough on crime, tough on causes of crime" Government?

Liz Brown, Montmartin en Graignes,

It is a sad problem that needs addressing. Police need to be hard but importnatly fair. Gaining the trust of individuals. Penalties should be severe, national service mandatory for all. I am from this community but choose to live outside of the deprived areas that are creating zombies doped up on dope.

Finally, the government should encourage families to reamin together through tax and other benefit and change the family law system so that where there is a separation fathers are entrusted to care for their children.

These are the tough choices that as a black man I and many of my friends, mainly well educated people, know is required.

Gavin Swan, London,

The best short term solution is legalistion and taxation of drugs with free rehabilitation for all addicts and buying up all the heroin and cocaine at source. This would destroy the drug business overnight and reduce the incentive to go into crime. Drugs would lose their cachet and begin a long, steady decline like smoking.

R Mason, London, UK

Following bloody riots in the early 80's the police were forced to cede the streets to those who did not want policing. This political expediency has rebounded on those sectors of our society which allowed the "activists" within their communities who wanted the police to go away, to hold sway.
At the same time, prior to those changes, policing had been geared to a relatively disciplined first world population, as opposed to the incoming, in certain areas, third world populace.

Edward, Lannion, France

Another example of blacks "enriching" us with their diversity and culture...lets wait till the whites become a minority...Goodbye UK...hello Zambia.....

Steve Chalmers, Ottawa, Canada

The traditional solution is borstal. Crude but stopped the theiving, protected from other criminals and dysfunctional familes and off the streets during the most delinquent prone years. Boarding school has same advantages but fewer disadvantages. As normal schools they would not be criminal finishing schools. Better education and a positive culture the kids would get jobs on leaving with no criminal record. It would also reduce hugely the number of babies born to teenage girls. We cannot send all teenagers but if we started with those over the age of 15 and most likely to inspire others to crime - whether or not they have already been prosecuted. It would break up the gangs and change the perception of crime for others. Then, extend it to anyone who would benefit. It could even be sold as a great opportunity and not a punishment or inspiring fear as Borstal used to do.

R Mason, London, UK