Respect is the bond that holds society together. Government has no more urgent task than to strengthen that bond. As long as ministers remain clear that the duty to show respect is exactly as important as the right to receive it they will deserve our fullest support.

Children riding bikes recklessly on pavements, old men allowing their dogs to foul the pavements, housewives who scatter bags of rubbish anywhere because they resent the council's attempt to limit the amount of unsorted waste it collects, and families who shout abuse at their neighbours, all provide examples of disrespectful behaviour. They all reject defiantly any idea that they should show consideration for other people. Listening to people on their doorsteps we are left in no doubt of their concern at the signs of disrespect they feel intruding on their peace and sense of security. Some have even pointed out addresses at which they know drugs are being traded. They rightly demand that order must be upheld, and the government has rightly put that demand at the top of its agenda.

Many more police officers are to be recruited with the purpose of strengthening community police teams. The patient, reasonable approach of officers like our own Andy Watson is an example of good practice and we need others like him as a visible presence on our streets, ready to listen to everyone and discourage antisocial behaviour before it hardens into crime. The fact that our town is mercifully free of violent disorder is a tribute both to sensitive policing and to the strong sense of respect shown by the great majority of our young people. The good order of our Castle is a tribute to the restraint of our young people as much as to the efforts of Friends of the Castle, Copeland's excellent Parks Department, and the visible presence of police officers.

We must never be complacent and we must relentlessly look for improvement, but as Donald Eaton wisely comments in his letter on page 12, "We've a lot of honest respectable people in Egremont and that's why people are proud to live in the town." We should not undervalue how much we have achieved. We must bear down on dog owners that still refuse to clean up after their animals, but should not lose sight that more and more are discretely using little plastic bags and dog bins. Too much litter still disgraces our streets, but never have so many people honestly tried to dispose of waste responsibly. Some youngsters still ride bikes in the Castle, but for two years now they have caused very little wanton damage. They all deserve our respect.

We understand why people get angry but may we make a plea that those who would like to be treated with more respect by young people should show respect, too? Schools which have been most successful in encouraging respectful attitudes have insisted on treating their students as young adults. It is far better to offer young people youth clubs and play areas than to try to suppress their natural sense of adventure. Calling them "yobs" and threatening illegal vigilante action may let off steam, but it is not a very good way of showing a mature and respectful example, and may provoke them to call their "elders and betters" something rude.