Originally Posted by David Agnew

We live in a high crime society. We shouldn't have to, as cutting crime is easy, but of course, our politicians won't do it. (New Labour won't even ensure that there are enough prison places, or that the prisons are drug free).

But what does living in a high crime society mean in practice? My experience of crime is: 2 thefts (one umbrella, one bicycle) and one assault (mild). I have never been burgled (unlike my next door neighbour) and I have never had my car broken into (unlike my sister and my mother). So I assume that I have got off lightly. But have I?

What is your experience of crime? (And why don't our politicians do anything?)

Originally Posted by David Agnew

It might be a bit glib to say that it is easy, but it's certainly straightforward. This is how I would do it:

Complete Cure For Crime

I think that because of the miserable failure of British politicians to cure crime (and sort out other problems), the electorate assumes that it is difficult to do. They are being too charitable: the issue isn't the difficulty of the problem, the issue is the hopelessness of our politicians.

Why British politicians won't sort out crime puzzles me, as they would make themselves more popular if they did. Some problems (such as the scandalous Common Fisheries Policy), they can't sort out even if they wanted too, because they have given their powers away, but they are still largely in control of the criminal 'justice' system.

Maybe they haven't got any ideas, maybe they haven't got the political will, maybe they don't want to sort out crime. I just don't know.