I WAS born in Swindon and I've lived here most of my life. I know full well what it was like years ago in terms of violence.

There's no doubt that it is more violent today than it ever was. And it's the same in every town in the country.

Only a little while back it was reported that there was a near riot in Malmesbury.

When was the last time that a small town had a riot to deal with? I suspect never. It's the reality we are dealing with.

Just out of interest, when someone gets to be a councillor do they automatically receive a bucket of sand to bury their head in, or is that just Brian Ford?

To say that it's just the media's reporting that has raised people's fears is absolute stupidity. We see it for ourselves, mate.

We hear it from our friends and colleagues and our own kids.

We see it on the TV in graphic detail and Swindon's been there too.

At least part of the problem is drink-fuelled, but drink is not entirely the reason. There are gangs of youths out there hell-bent on dealing out a vicious beating to whomever they fancy.

They aren't drunk at all and it appears that picking on some poor soul to get a good kicking is part of the fun of a Saturday night.

The police need to deal with it and deal with it now. Some of these kids get away with near murder.

ANDREW ROZYCKI

Whittington Road

Swindon