Madam, - Several letter-writers have argued that Asbos would unfairly criminalise young people. Young people, they argue, have been shoddily treated by society, have been neglected by the establishment and mistreated by the police. This may indeed be the case, but the arguments that are then derived against Asbos are spurious on two counts.
In the first place, social alienation, establishment neglect, and especially police misbehaviour, where they exist, are problems of such gravity that they must be addressed immediately. Abuse of Asbos can never compare with the iniquities that these failures have already occasioned. To argue, as Mr Looney does (June 15th), that "the horrific neglect of Tallaght" is a reason to oppose Asbos is well-intentioned but wrong. The "horrific neglect of Tallaght" is a reason to address that neglect, not to oppose devices that may contain the resulting problems.
Valerie Duffy (June 15th) believes we should address antisocial behaviour in a "holistic and community-based way", which we must. Indeed, I doubt there is anyone who wishes to see a single Asbo imposed; we should all prefer that our neighbours behave themselves.
Nonetheless, even well-considered and well-funded community schemes will take years to solve the social problems in our more deprived areas; and in the interim, Asbos will make those areas more tolerable to inhabit.
We must not allow concern for youths who have been neglected or alienated to prevent us from punishing antisocial behaviour. It is better to be hypocritical in fostering misbehaviour through neglect and then punishing that misbehaviour than to bring fear upon the innocent by allowing that misbehaviour to go unchecked, and thereby encouraging it.
Moreover, those who suffer antisocial behaviour are seldom the wealthy or powerful; they are the doubly weak, who cannot afford to live in well-to-do areas, and cannot protect themselves against their tormentors. We owe these people most of all, and every reasonable step should be taken to protect them. - Yours, etc,
BENEDICT WILLIAMS, Dundrum, Dublin 16.