I welcome the information from the mother of one of those involved in the violence in Churchill Square that the courts have dealt properly with some of them (The Argus, March 26 and April 5).

However, the claim there are not enough facilities for young people is no excuse for the vicious attacks which The Argus described and which appeared on YouTube.

In fact, that pitiful excuse for the violence is also an insult to the vast majority of young people who do not act in this brutal way.

My comment about "throwing the book at them" applied not just to the thugs who carried out the attacks but also to those who turned those attacks into sick entertainment on the internet celebrating violence.

The courts might have dealt with the original offences but will be asking ministers to consider what can be done to prevent or penalise the use of videos of real-life violence being used as entertainment in this way.

  • David Lepper, Labour and Co-operative MP, Brighton Pavilion, House of Commons, London