Soft approach is no deterrent

In the last two years my girlfriend and I have been victims of violent crime. I was assaulted by a youth and thought better of fighting back as I might have been stabbed by his associate; they pursued me through the streets until a resident telephoned the police.

They didn't show up until the next day to take a statement, by which time they were no help and could do nothing about it as there were no other witnesses.

I have also been robbed at knifepoint, right under a police CCTV camera, which was out of service, I was told by a police officer at the station when I reported the incident, so there was no evidence.

My girlfriend was punched in the face by a young woman while on a crowded bus in broad daylight for nothing more than her carrier bags accidentally touching the legs of the attacker's friend.

It happened to be a bus without video recording equipment fitted so, again, there was no evidence and the police could do very little.

One of our neighbours is a youth who likes to play his music loud and has all-night parties every so often. I've repeatedly complained about the bass banging through our walls.

The last time I politely asked him to turn it down or use headphones I was met by a barrage of insults and offensive language while he laughed to his friends.

I have worked in the criminal justice system and experienced the liberal, softly-softly policy of the law and, frankly, I am appalled and disgusted by the mealy-mouthed attitude to justice in this country.

Prison is no deterrent. The law is reactionary and inadequate. Criminals know they get a better time in jail, everything laid on, a cushy number. Sentences are halved to make room in prisons. Judges are pressured by politicians to cut sentences because jails are filling up.

Politicians tell the public "we're tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" while, behind closed doors, they plot to cut expenditure.

Bring back the days of the birch, hard labour and capital punishment, and do away with the idea that a criminal has civil or human rights. I believe that fear of the law breeds respect for the law.

S Hodges, Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton.