CRIMINAL JUSTICE: RE-OFFENDING rates for young offender institutions are as high as 84 per cent (Echo, Sept 15).

As preventing re-offending is one of the institutions' priorities it is clear that they do not work. So perhaps more community-based sentences should be considered.

What it does not report is that one might actually expect to find a much better picture for those given community-based sentences: after all these offences were presumably less serious.

Unfortunately, that is not the case; 56 per cent of adults and 73 per cent of young offenders who have served community-based sentences are re-convicted within two years (British crime survey).

Prison works only to deter and incapacitate the criminal - not an ideal solution but the only one the law-abiding population of this country has.

America has, since the 1980s, pursued a policy of high enforcement and long prison sentences. As a result, since the early 1990s, you are twice as likely to be burgled in Britain than America.

Police clear up rates have fallen from 40 per cent in 1980 to 23 per cent last year. The burglary clear up rate is down to 12 per cent. This gives a burglar an 82 per cent chance of not being arrested, never mind being convicted. - N Kellett, Durham.

YOU ask 'Why do we lock up these children?' (Echo, Sept 15) referring to the Aycliffe secure unit.

Isn't it obvious? Because they are a menace to society, especially its most vulnerable members like the elderly.

There have been many cases of old people, some of them with dementia, being terrorised to death by cocky, street-wise young criminals like those at Aycliffe.

Why do the latter always enjoy priority over their victims in the eyes of people in authority and the media?

True, the proliferation of teenage thuggery is an indictment of our society. Its causes? Obvious again: Internet porn and video nasties and unrestricted access to either, the exaltation in all walks of life of an uninhibited individualism at the expense of traditional values. - T Kelly, Crook.

ASYLUM SEEKERS

THE issues of asylum and immigration are complex and paradoxical. On the one hand, we need immigrants as we always have done - they bring tremendous social, cultural and economic benefits. We need young immigrants to help create the wealth to support our increasingly aged population, and some industries and public services, notably the NHS, would collapse without an immigrant workforce.

On the other hand, concerns are expressed about strains on local services and the effect on unemployment and population. The numbers of asylum seekers are often exaggerated. They are not allowed to work, and money to support them comes from central government funds, and doesn't affect local budgets.

We live in a very rich country, and we have a humanitarian and legal duty to care for people fleeing persecution. We also have to take responsibility for our part in the grossly unfair global distribution of wealth, our foreign military adventures and our role as the world's second biggest international arms dealer.

Most refugees would return home if it were safe to do so. If we did more to promote peace and prosperity abroad, perhaps fewer would be driven to seek refuge here in the first place. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

FAT CATS

M MCGREGOR (HAS, Sept 17) makes points with which I can only agree about so-called fat cats.

But I would add another little point. Why don't we include most, not all, union leaders? - P Brown, Trimdon Village.

AMERICA

CT RILEY (HAS, Sept 9) was given space to suggest that the Battle of Britain was won by Polish pilots who formed the physical majority of the RAF.

This is, of course, a complete fabrication of the truth. Nearly 3,000 pilots were involved from various countries, with the United Kingdom supplying more than three-quarters of this total.

Other countries' airmen involved were American, Canadian, New Zealanders, Australian, Czechoslovakian, South African, Rhodesians, etc - about 14 different nationalities in total.

Russia did not assist until it was attacked in June 1941.

America assisted by transferring destroyers in August 1940 and, before entering the war in December 1941, trained our pilots in the US and shipped over planes and equipment.

Although we all should be grateful to America, I agree we should not be slaves to American bidding and our armed forces should not be in Iraq. - RB Newton, ex-RAF 1942-44, Darlington.

EURO REFERENDUM

I NEVER cease to be amazed at the media interpretation of what constitutes an 'overwhelming' majority.

In the Swedish referendum on the euro, approximately 45 per cent voted for and 55 per cent voted against.

What may I ask is 'overwhelming' about that?

Nationalism is a very dangerous thing, as we all know. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.