Last year you published a letter complaining about the amount of graffiti on the Greenwich/Woolwich railway line from Charing Cross.

Since then it has got considerably worse, despite South Eastern Trains (SET) reassuring me they would be tackling the problem.

Michael Holden, managing director of SET, has published a brochure saying the company is now fitting its trains with anti-graffiti vinyl films and laminates.

But he ducks the issue I raised about the extensive criminal damage which has been done to trackside walls and buildings which can be seen along the route from Higham to London, which gives the whole of the rail network a shabby appearance.

It will take millions of pounds, thousands of workers and a number of years to remove this.

The problem is caused by the complete absence of security staff patrolling the network at night and is part of the general social problem of the withdrawal of authority figures in society generally.

Policemen no longer patrol the streets and ticket inspectors seldom appear on the trains hence people feel they can do whatever they like.

Political correctness plays its part. There are signs in every rail car warning people not to smoke but none banning graffiti.

Tony Milne
Howarth Road
Abbey Wood