WITH new and ever more depressing reports of vandalism, street crime and general loutishness arriving every day, it is sometimes tempting to simply give up urban life altogether and go and live elsewhere.

Perhaps we would do just that if we thought we were completely alone in our stand against the anti-social people who are not happy unless they are making their fellow citizens' lives miserable.

But we are not alone.

Swindon Council has its own dedicated Crime and Disorder Team and its most recent success was the securing of an interim Anti-Social behaviour order against Penhill teenager Liam Walsh, banning him from areas where he is alleged to have caused trouble.

The team may well have its setbacks in the future. For every vandal, lout and thug, there is a bank of "professionals" waiting to tell the police and the courts that they deserve sympathy.

But knowing that decent, ordinary citizens at least have somebody in their corner is comforting enough for now.