I find myself driven to reply to the points raised by Dr Peter Squires in the article on ASBOs (The Argus, January 9) - not to defend the actions of the police but to give a voice to the victims of crime, who are often completely overlooked in the desire to be fair to those who have been convicted.

There are no winners and losers when it comes to crime. I believe everyone involved is a victim.

Those who are true victims will suffer the after-effects of the crime for years to come. The people who commit crimes are also victims - of the deeds they have done. Whether those actions are the result of attention deficit disorder, greed or poverty, they are still victims.

I believe the policy of naming people served with an ASBO is right, for these reasons:

* ASBOs are granted following a catalogue of incidents where there have been many, sometimes dozens, of victims. They are rarely granted as a result of a one-off offence.

* The recipients of the ASBO are usually people who can't control their offending behaviour. Often, they are young people, who lack the self-control and respect for themselves and others which prevents law-abiding people from committing these type of acts. Often, they lack a steadying influence in their lives.

ASBOs are not a cure and they don't come close to being one. They do, however, give an opportunity for out-of-control people to take stock and be directed to behave.

Dr Squires mentioned the human rights of people who are the subject of an ASBO.

I didn't read him mentioning the human rights of their victims, who cower, day in, day out, expecting their homes and lives to be invaded by the missiles thrown by these lads.

I extend an invitation to him to come with me to visit some of the victims in order to see an aspect not covered by his views.

-Sergeant David Kemp, Seaford Police Station