AS regular visitors to Weston Shore, my wife and I took a lot of interest in the work that was being done to the pre-war shelters. I remember saying at the time, I wonder how long the good work will last? Sadly now we know.

Why do we get vandalism and yob behaviour? We read about it all the time and when it is reported people say it has been going on for weeks, sometimes months. In one case a year or more. Where have our police and authorities gone wrong? How can it go on for days and weeks?

Those of my age group who remember the pre-war and post-war period have seen our nation's standards deteriorate. This goes for antisocial dress sense, foul language, lack of respect for the elderly.

We now hear foul language daily in public, in films, and on the TV. It's a sign of how our society has deteriorated.

I saw a police programme on TV recently. The police were in a town centre to arrest drunks etc, but it was a shock to see the police being subject to abuse. What did the police do? Tell the yobs not to be naughty. They cannot touch them for fear of being charged with assault.

In my youth we had great respect for the police. If we had spoken to the police in this manner we would have had a thick ear or thick lip and well deserved.

A lot of this starts in schools where teachers have no control over pupils.

Second World War soldiers were told they would return to a land fit for heroes. Sadly it looks like a land fit for yobs!

A W HANLON, Harefield, Southampton.