AM I alone in wondering what has happened to all those bold pledges by Labour to be "tough" on crime, tough on the cause of crime"?

It is bad enough that the streets aren't safe after dark and the number of "bobbies on the beat" has fallen by 2,500, but why does this government insist on letting out the nastiest criminals early?

Under their early-release scheme, thousands of prisoners have been released from jail before serving even half their sentence.

This madness will mean that those of us who are law-abiding now have even more reason to fear for our safety and possessions.

The message from our Government is quite simple - if you are law-abiding you are on your own.

The only person talking sense about law and order issues seems to be Ann Widdecombe.

With 2,500 fewer police, violent crime is soaring and I heard her say that one way to solve the problem is to stop bogging them down with paperwork and bureaucracy.

This seems so obvious and it would free our police to get out on to the streets, catch criminals and protect our children.

It is a scandal that Labour continues to ignore our concerns over law and order. Maybe it's time we gave a chance to a party that will listen.

BILL WIGGIN,

Conservative PPC for Leominster.