SO here we go again, First it was those goody goodies saying we can?t do this, we can?t do that. Now we have Lord Woolf, the country?s top judge, saying that first-time burglars should be spared jail sentences. So what, holidays for criminals instead?

Well, Lord Woolf, tell that to an elderly victim of a burglar, or the family of that person. Whether first-timers or not, this country has gone soft on criminals. There is too much sympathy for the criminal and hardly any for the victim.

A criminal first-timer or not could easily have done several other offences before being caught. Just look at the number of offenders appearing in court who have several other offences being taken into consideration.

I know the jails are overcrowded, But what is to replace jail as a detterent? Commmunity service orders, probation and fines do not work. Only recently people were let off all the fines they owed and given seven days in jail. What should have happen is seven days in jail plus all the fines to be paid.

The public are fed up with all this sympathy towards the criminal fraternity. The public have stated time after time that they are being let down by the law.

If Lord Woolf is serious about his statement, just what will be put in its place? Probation? Fines? Community Service Orders which do not work?

What is needed is a short, sharp, sentence, or electronic tagging and curfew orders. These curfews, especially in winter time, should be from at least 4pm to 10am the following day and lengthy in duration.

Okay, perhaps rehabilitation works, but where?s the proof? And where is the rehabilitation to help the victim? Come on, Lord Woolf, produce the evidence that re-offending is controllable, and perhaps we might be more supportive of the proposals.

In the meantime let?s see if the burglary rates go up as the criminal fraternity test the waters following Lord Woolf?s remarks. It?s time this country stopped bowing to the criminal fraternity, and remembered just who is the victim of the crime.

This softness towards the criminal element is making the elderly and others live in a country in fear of crime. and that does not help the health of the elderly in our society.

Come on, Lord Woolf wake up, and start living in the real world, not fantasy island or a country where the victim can no longer expect the law to do its job and hand out justice for all victims of crime.

Colin Harris

Chairman

Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association