Today's ITN lunchtime news has left me speechless. Drunken British holidaymakers are causing all sorts of problems for the Greek authorities. They are trying to tackle a rise in trouble at a number of resorts. As one Greek official put it "We expect this type of behaviour from visiting British football fans, but now they promote their talents on holiday as well".


Holiday spots on Crete and Zakynthos seem to be the worst. Crimes include drunkenness, GBH, racial violence, damage to property and sexual assaults on local women. Thousands of young Britons descend on the islands during July and August, attracted by cheap drinks and a raucous night-life.

Greek authorities have decided to take a hard line on the revellers in a bid to boost the faltering reputations of some of the holiday resorts. Family holidays have fallen by 80% on the islands.

Officers in Crete say they will arrest tourists they suspect of being very drunk as a pre-emptive strike to stop trouble before it starts. They added, no other nationality are involved in the violence. The resort is popular with French, German and Greek holiday makers.

Why can't our young people respect the laws of the country they are staying in ?