Dear Sir/Madam,

The following article in today's Independent prompted me to give some thought to what might motivate criminal behaviour (Judges halt plan to 'name and shame' criminals, 13 June 2003). 

If you will excuse my lack of political correctness for even considering it, is it not understandable that some people choose crime as a way of making a living rather than bear the stigma of (relative) poverty or of having to live off unemployment benefit or social security? 

I hasten to add, that it is not my intention to justify, let alone encourage, criminal behaviour, but to try and understand the cause of at least some of it.

Among animals we admire predators, such as lions and tigers, while loathing parasites, such as lice and fleas; yet lice and lion alike are just making a living for themselves.

In human history, is it not the conquering warrior we tend to admire and identify with? Alexander the Great, Henry V at Agincourt, Napoleon etc. etc. As Englishmen and women are we not expected to be proud of Sir Francis Drakes exploits as a pirate and plunderer of Spanish galleons?

Did trade not first develop as an expedient alternative to raiding and stealing?

Were the Vikings who raided the British Isles criminals? In the eyes of their victims, no doubt they were, but in their own eyes and those of their dependents they were just making a living, and an exciting and courageous one at that!

And don't most of us tend, at least, to have more respect for the "noble", well-heeled criminal than for the perpetually hard-up, or for the benefits "scrounger"?

The more I think about it the more I can understand why, in our mass consumer society of anonymous individuals, all pursuing their own self-interests, someone might turn to crime, if they see this mass of estranged humanity as no more than a rich source of prey, and themselves as noble predators.

They take risks and may come unstuck, but they are not going to feel "ashamed" for what they are doing. Far from it. Being a predator/criminal  requires skill and courage, and if they are successful they will be able to provide themselves and their dependents with a lifestyle to be proud of.

Recently I have also been interested to learn, from the horses mouth, so to speak, and from various reports, what seems to be one of the main motivations for vandalism: BOREDOM!

What does that tell us about the state of the society in which we live? I'm not quite sure either, but it suggests to me that there is something pretty rotten, not just in the state of Denmark, but in much of modern society, and particularly in Britain.

It is extremely difficult (perhaps impossible) to judge what the actual state of society is, because we are immersed in it, and thus cannot possibly be objective. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that comparisons with the past tend to show present society in a positive light, many aspects of life now being much improved compared to earlier times. Nevertheless, that groups of young people are turning to vandalism out of "boredom" is deeply troubling and a strong indication that something very basic and important is amiss.

But those in positions of authority and/or influence in society and capable (collectively) of changing anything - with their interesting, or usually at least, well-paid jobs - are, understandably, fairly content with the way things are, and not inclined, despite all their concern and good intentions, to see, or even look for, any cause for radical change.

And there, for today at least, I must leave it.