Boys Clean Melksham Loos to Make Amends for Damaging Them

As far as cost goes, I'd rather the spend of my tax money go toward two people supervising* them for a couple of hours, than the cost of court and prosecution fees...and the place would still be left in a mess for someone else to clean.

I guess the true test of whether it was the right "punishment" is to ask the three boys if they'd ever do that again. Frankly, I'd like to think it was a good lesson.

* "supervising" not a good word choice here as I'm sure the boys got to know PC Fulbrook-Smith better (giving human face to police), and were given good work lessons from Mr. Hodges.

I think it's brilliant that these youth were made to clean up the mess they created. I do think it taught them far more than either a verbal warning, a fine, or being sent off to someplace to serve their time. While they cleaned and scrubbed and cleared out the muck, they had the time to realise the first rule of consequence for what they did. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

People passing by and acknowledging them, an alternating effect of the public humiliation, and for the work they were doing possibly instilled in them much-needed and desired praise they may not normally get.

Far more I'm sure it gave them a feeling of pride when it was done. Certainly when they walk by they'll remember the "hard time" they had to do, but imagine now, how they'd feel if someone equally destructive came along and undid everything they'd done.

Well done, and I champion this scheme!

(Phil, won't comment on your wish list, but I did gaffaw a few times.)

I think it's a great idea - well done to all concerned in seeing it through. I'd definitely like to see more of this kind of thing happening. As well as these young hooligans being made to physically put right the damage they've caused, I'd like to see:

* Senior executives from Wal-Mart in America, who own Asda, forced to come to Melksham and plant some trees to replace the avenue they unnecessarily uprooted (I am more forgiving of Sainsburys, as they appear to be doing their best to create a pleasant riverside environment on the land they own)

* Messrs. Philip Hammond, Theresa Villiers, Norman Baker and Mike Penning of the Department of Transport made to come and clean up and repaint Melksham Station. You thought you could close it by running our train service down - every bit as much of an act of vandalism as the young scallywags mentioned above - but the people of Melksham have proved they'll support it if only we could have a useable service.

* The unnamed morons at Wiltshire Council who thought they could get away with spending almost half a million quid of our hard earned money on a completely unnecessary car park on the former George Ward School site should be made to get down on their hands and knees and paint white lines on the thousands of square yards of school playground right under their own noses that they don't appear to have noticed is already there

* The Chairman and Chief Executive of Barclays Bank being made to come and clean up the facia above their branch in Melksham. It's an eyesore. It lets the whole street down. Independent traders in the same row of shops have made an effort - Barclays, your lack of effort is absolutely shameful.

* Jonathan Seed should be made to come and dig the foundations of the new Melksham Campus by hand. With a spoon. How dare he tell us that we could either have a community campus on an out of town site or lose the opportunity altogether, when all along there was a perfectly practical alternative right there in the town centre?

Whilst I think the basic idea is a good one the trouble is it also ties up at least one officer and other staff whilst its happening, which isnt so good.

Not sure the payment fits the crime either, how does being a vandal and arsonist, potentially risking life ( fire crew gets called, whist dealing with that someones house is on fire, car is on its roof etc ) just get you to do a bit of cleaning - a much more serious and lengthy job would of been better, and I couldnt care how old they are, crimes a crime.

Maybe people using this scheme should also be splashed across the front of the MIN and websites aswell, they are getting to easy a ride and its still costing US!