I AM writing to you to discuss a topic that has had much press at the moment. The subject matter is in relation to the wearing of hoodies and ageism, which seems to be very much alive in this area at the moment.

I myself do not wear hoodies but it does not mean that I think the treatment of those that do excusable.

Youths who wear hoodies and caps are not all thugs; it is an appalling generalisation to make.

Many of my friends wear hoodies and when I ask them why, they do not reply with the stereotypical view of "because I'm hard."

They simply reply that "it is comfortable."

It is true that some of them wear them just to be part of the group, but isn't that most of us do in following catwalk fashion? Why should youth fashion be discriminated against?

There is no difference.

I hear that police in parts of the country are now stopping youths who are wearing hoodies and asking them to remove them or to leave.

But why?

Because people are intimidated because of their own generalisations? Very few go around "happy slapping".

In fact, out of all the people that I know that wear hoodies (and I have asked my friends the same question about their friends) none of them go around "happy slapping."

Discrimination against young people seems to be acceptable. How can we strive for equality if people are teaching the future generation that they are not equal simply because of what they are wearing?

Hoodies are an expression of individuality.

Surely the police could use their time much more effectively by trying to stop, or at least control, the drugs problem in Wycombe because let's face it, there is one.

Telling people to take their hoodies off is a waste of time and complete nonsense. Intimidation and misconduct stems much further from what you wear.

The amount of people that I have heard of, and that I'm sure many others are aware of, that go into work five days a week in suits or go to school dressed appropriately, but are actually drug dealers, is quite suprising compared to those that are drug dealers that wear hoodies.

I would really be interested to hear responses to my argument.

It is a view that affects me, and I would like to study law at university next year.

Natasha Williams, Holmer Green

Note: Police have said they have not heard of any problems of this nature in High Wycombe town centre and have not instructed anyone to remove their hoods