The judge is right to say Colchester town centre is getting to be a “no-go zone” (Gazette, October 2).

I went to pick my daughter up at 1am the other weekend, as she was at a birthday bash and would never drink and drive.

On my way to pick her up from the Castle pub, I had three drunken men just step out in front of me.

You could see men and woman being sick in doorways and on the path, the police were trying to stop a fight outside the Wig and Pen and again down near Spar.

Even in the safety of a car, I could not wait to pick up my daughter and get out of the town centre.

Inspector Paul Butcher, Henry Spyvee and our good old friend Bob Russell say this is wrong, and Colchester is a safe place to be.

I wonder if any of them would take their wives or children into the town after 7pm on a weekend or even let them walk around town by themselves. I do not think so.

Insp Butcher says there are high-profile patrols. Yes that may be so, but while the police are wasting their time in the town looking after drunken yobs, other crime is not being tackled.

Mayor Henry Spyvee did not say if he would ever go out and walk around the town by himself at night and as for MP Bob Russell, he said he had spend many evenings out with the SOS bus. Being in a safe place like the SOS bus, or walking round the town with the police, is a lot different to walking around the town by themselves.

Until these people get out there by themselves or let their family go into town late at night, then there views mean nothing.

Good on the judge for speaking up and bringing this matter into the spotlight.

David Mills
Horrocks Close
Colchester

...If Recorder David Holborn believes Colchester is becoming a no-go area, then he might reflect on the light sentence he handed out to, what is reported as, a repeat offender.

He is in a position to make a difference, whereas your average reader is not!

Derek Barnes
Grasmere, Church Road,
Fingringhoe, Colchester