RE the article “New mayor hits out at attacks on firefighters” in Tuesday’s edition and previous articles on the subject. A problem will not go away unless you solve the problem. There seems to be a reluctance to actually do so. Mr Burnham says that he has a zero tolerance approach. Now I thought that zero tolerance meant doing everything possible to catch perpetrators and punishing them hard so that they will not want to reoffend and others will also be discouraged from offending too in the sure knowledge that they will not get away with it.

So, empower the fire brigade to carry a high powered concentrated jet spray of pungent dye. Spray the offenders then get the police to track them back to their homes. Drag them out and bang them up for a long time.

It is often said that parents are not aware of what their charming offspring are doing. Well an added bonus would be that when they came back covered in it, they would be well aware of it then.

I am all for teaching, helping and reforming young people, but that should be after they have paid the price for their actions.

Roy Caswell

Beverley Road

Bolton