On Saturday evening my husband and I went for a meal in Preston Street. We left the restaurant at about 8.45pm. At the top of the street, two police vans were in evidence and two police officers were ticketing illegally parked cars.

We walked along Western Road towards Churchill Square and, outside Woolworth's, were confronted by five youths aged between 15 and 17 carrying cans of lager, obviously drunk and wanted to fight my husband.

We managed to walk away from this group. I looked for a police officer to report this incident to. No police cars were in sight and yet this area of Brighton, especially at this time of year, is a recognised trouble spot.

Why are police targeting parked cars, the easy option, and yet no resources are being made available to combat the real fears of local residents, which of course are that the streets of Brighton are becoming no-go areas after 7pm?

-Name and address supplied