Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

Is anywhere safe?

We all grieve the loss of a talented young lady from the heart of our community, so cruelly cut down on the threshold of adulthood. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family. We have equally watched on in amazement at the spate of murders in Cornwall in recent weeks, hard on the heels of a tragic killing in Plympton of a senior citizen in his own bed. What’s going on?

The police who have acquitted themselves so well through these recent killings, and deserve our praise, tell us that the fear of crime is far greater than the likelihood of being involved in one ourselves. Of course that must be right and we should not forget that. But in this quiet part of the world, where we expect life to chug along without major disruption, where we expect our children to be safe on buses, where we should be able to close our doors and feel safe, I can sense the frissons of concern rippling through our neighbourhood over these recent events.

How should we react to a growing sense of insecurity in modern society? May I suggest 3 things?

First, our sentencing regime must command public confidence. I am sorry to all those civil libertarians out there but enough is enough. If someone is caught perpetrating these evil crimes they should never stalk our streets again. Never. Whether it is sex crimes against innocent children or murders of the kind we have recently witnessed the punishment must fit the crime. It is what the vast majority of law-abiding citizens wish to see and I agree with them.

Second, the real fear of all those tempted to commit these acts of violence is the fear of being caught (and harshly punished). And so our police forces must have the resources to do the job, including the very best technology that money can buy. They have a responsibility to use it wisely, but we dare not short change the thin blue line.

Finally, we must look to prevention and not just to cure. We also have to consider more widely at some of the modern influences that act as catalysts for such deviant behaviour. Widespread drug abuse, such easy access by Internet and magazine to the most shocking pornography, gratuitous violence on our TV sets. Is it any wonder?

Some will cry: freedom! Precisely; freedom for our children. What do you think? mail@garystreeter.co.uk

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 24, 2003