Quite rightly, Lino Briguglio complains of the annoying behaviour and great inconvenience which foreign students attending different language schools in Sliema are creating for the residents (‘Nuisance caused by foreign students’, Times of Malta, August 7).

Being a Sliema resident and living in the Tigné area, I fully agree with his way of reasoning although the relocation of these schools (about 10 of them, all in residential areas) is now impossible.

In my opinion, the problem is due to the lack of accountability and law enforcement. Recently, we have had an alarming spate of thefts in Sliema and the local council has held ‘fruitful meetings’ with the police in order to preclude other thefts taking place – definitely a move in the right direction which we all hope will meet with the desired success. I suggest additional meetings are held between the two sides. Would it be too much to hold the language schools responsible for the behaviour of these students during their lunch breaks? The students litter the streets with all sorts of rubbish: empty beer cans, leftover food and cigarette butts.

Yet, nobody tells the students that such behaviour is unacceptable. The least that can be done is that the schools’ cleaning staff is sent to clean the rubbish left by the students.

Another problem with these students is their behaviour, especially in the afternoon and at night.

They walk through the streets, shouting and laughing loudly, probably in a drunken state, and they do not care that the residents are resting or sleeping. Do they behave like this in their countries? I doubt it.

In the circumstances, I urge the authorities to make their presence felt on the streets of Sliema all the time. Both police and wardens are the executive officers of the law and should protect citizens from unruly behaviour while holding the language schools responsible and accountable.