andypandy

I don't think that strong deterrants was the reason the we (the West I presume you mean) won the cold war. It had more to do with the cold, hard, economic meltdown of the Soviet block, particularly after Chernobyl, and the technical supremacy of the West, especially as a result of the Star Wars programme.

The Soviets also had "strong deterrants", but its economic core was riddled with corruption and poor management.

kernow

Niall Warry

HiAndypandy,
In your effort to simply disagree you haven't thought this through.
Yes the USSR also had nukes as criminals have guns but the URRS niukes where kept at bay by the even better USA nukes in just the same way as a criminal's knife or gun would be less likely to be used if the law 'punished' criminals effectively. I accept that the genie is out of the bottle ref a break down in law and order but zero tolerance would make tings better in I reckon about 12 months. Then of course it would have to be maintained FOREVER - for if you give a criminal justice inch the criminal will take a mile,

kernow

I've cherry picked this quote of Niall Warry, because I think if any government adhered to this it would be a major step towards crime becoming a minor issue instead of the major issue it is at present. Of course for it to work we would have to leave the EU first before it was allowed to happen!