Sir, Zero Tolerance stores up problems for the future by pulling more minor offenders into an already overcrowded criminal justice system. It does nothing to rehabilitate people once they are labelled criminals.
Perhaps it is time for politicians to resist the knee-jerk reactions popular in other countries, and to go bravely where none have gone before - tackle some of the root causes of crime: unemployment, social inequality and addiction. - Yours, etc.,
Cedar House, Mespil Estate, Dublin 4