MANY people whose lives are made a misery by vandals and petty law-breakers will regret that Swindon Council chiefs have yet to grasp the opportunity to close notorious alleys which are happy hunting grounds for these anti-social pests.

The "high crime area" status ruling introduced by the Government clearly works, as evidenced by the 90 per cent reduction in rear access burglaries where backways have been barred in parts of London.

So there is every reason to suppose that such a measure could transform the lives of people currently suffering because of persistent vandalism, criminal damage and abuse.

We acknowledge that some people have understandable objections. But unfortunately the environment in which many of Swindon's residents are forced to live is, thanks to the vandals, far from perfect.

They might say that safety and peace of mind are worth sacrificing the right to walk or drive along a few of Swindon's "backs".