SIR

We are all ashamed, shocked and appalled by the riots in our towns and cities.

We see it on newsflashes in reactions to despotic regimes overseas – but it could never happen here, surely?

But it did, and repeated itself in rapid copycat fashion just as soon as it was evident that there was little that could be done to resist mass disobedience.

How have we allowed the moral fibre of society to disintegrate so completely that it has been possible for such a succession of unlawful events to occur, without any genuine provocation?

This was no protest against the government's handling of the economy or a knee-jerk response to a perceived mistake by the police.

It was a wicked act by a large number of individuals who decided to exploit the inability of the rest of society to resist mass civil disobedience.

It couldn't happen here in Monmouth, could it?

I don't believe someone goes from being a quiet law-abiding citizen one day, to a rampaging looter and thug the next.

Little by little, the events that test society's tolerance are cranked up.

Acts of civil disobedience may be seemingly petty at first, but the boundaries are pushed back and back as society continues to show little will to resist.

Remember the recent story in the Beacon; a man from Monmouth, who tried to stop a neighbour's car being vandalised, was beaten with a metal pole by drunken youths.

Look around this town of ours and you will see the first signs of collective disobedience – litter, graffiti, arson, wilful damage – you need go no further than Chippenham Fields which, though a designated alcohol-free area, is littered daily with discarded beer and spirits cans and bottles.

Council workers spend much of every Monday, Wednesday and Friday removing the discarded beer and spirit bottles and accompanying food packaging and plastic bags.

Even if the drunken young party-goers had the wit to take their remains to a litter bin they would probably find that it had been the target of some other mindless idiots who had set fire to it.

You would think that, in a group of 10 or 15 youngsters, someone would have sufficient conscience or responsibility to encourage their pals to clean up after themselves.

These departing youngsters are not slinking away in the dead of night, but in broad daylight. So why is nobody concerned about it?

Either they have become inured to it, accept it, or are afraid of the sort of horrendous reprisals that were inflicted upon the good neighbour who tried to stop youths from jumping on the roof of a car.

What is the point of designating the area as one in which alcohol may not be consumed if it can be disregarded so flagrantly and obviously?

How is it that our police are unable to see, and if they do act upon, such obvious and flagrant disregard of the law?

In its attempts to give everyone the freedoms and protection that are deemed appropriate and necessary in a democratic society our lawmakers have unwittingly fostered a disobedient and irresponsible generation.

It has also emasculated those who historically have laid the ground rules for civilised behaviour, resulting in a situation where parents, teachers, neighbours and law officers are powerless and/ or fearful to take action when faced with the wilful lawlessness of a generation that is fully aware of the changing balance of power.

Those of us from a different and earlier generation learnt how we were expected to behave from parents and teachers who were themselves role models.

A policeman's intervention was a last – and usually unnecessary resort. Where necessary, exemplary punishments were issued which served as a significant deterrent to others.

I don't believe that Monmouth is in danger of descending to the depths seen in London, Manchester and Birmingham in recent days.

But we would do well to look at ourselves and ask the question "are we too tolerant, or just apathetic?"

We must be prepared to deal firmly with examples of civil disobedience at an early stage to send out a signal that this is a zero-tolerant town.

(Name and address supplied)