[JohnW]

Busman,

I have to tell you that, having lived in both the UK and the USA, IMHO the juvenile delinquency problem is far worse over your side of the pond than it is over here. Let me just give you one example.

I live on a golf course and the other day, four teenage lads, (maybe 16/17 years old) decided they would take a shortcut through my garden to get to their houses which are on the other side of the fairway. I went outside and told them that they were trespassing, that my garden was not a public right of way and that I didn't appreciate them using it as such. The four of them apologised and said that it wouldn't happen again. What do you think the chances are I would have received a similar response in the UK?

I really am amazed when people make sweeping comments that give the impression that America's supposed problems with teenage violence are worse than anywhere else. It simply is not true. At least, not in the region I live. Maybe in some of the inner cities there are problems but I still consider them less that the problems in much of Europe. I have been to sporting events here, baseball, American football etc in large inner-city stadia holding 100K people and have never seen any trouble. I'm sure it will surprise you to know that I've never even heard anyone utter so much as a swearword at these events. Contrast that with what goes on every week during football season in England. I've seen that first hand; having been a season ticket holder at a well-known Lancashire club.