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I think the sad thing about all this is that householders are placed in this position when dealing with burglars because legal deterrents to crime are ineffective.
The law operates in the favour of crimininals. Factors like low crime detection rates, lenient sentencing and the unwillingness of judges to send people to prison, the early release of prisoners all contribute to an increase in crime and an increase in the social vulnerability of the ordinary citizen.
The New Labour slogan of "Tough on crime and the causes of crime" is a farce because "tough" they ain't. Like Chamberlain, they are operating a policy of appeasement and instead of the state dealing effectively with criminals, it is left to the ordinary person.
Sentences and prison conditions need to be far harsher so that criminals do not relish the prospect of going back inside. Lack of freedom is not enough. Demands need to be made on prisoners to change their ways.
Maybe then we can rest easy in our beds without the need to have a shotgun by our bedsides.
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