Letter: The best yobs

Sir: Your article on French law relating to English football supporters (Law, 19 June) misses a central point. In France, most of those accused of crimes are imprisoned while an investigating magistrate considers whether they should be charged. This can go on for years and applies to both "white- collar" and to other offences. Recently, the head of the railways, the SNCF, was put in prison pending fraud charges and a British lorry driver was held for two years on suspicion of drug trafficking before being released. This makes provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act look mild.

When the eyes of the world are upon them, as here and in respect of the paparazzi involved in the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the French resort to the "fast-track" approach to get the people to the point of being charged or exonerated very quickly. Their system, however, is not equipped to cope with this; hence the difficulties described in the article.

JOSIE EDWARDS

London N10