The number of murders of both children and adults shows no sign of going down.

There is also the number of innocent people being set upon for no reason and given a savage beating by thugs who are let off with a smack on the hand.

A recent reconstruction on TV was the case of Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer who shot and killed one burglar and wounded another.

But our laws, which lean to criminals and make the person who is defending his property the bad one, show what an undemocratic system we have in this country.

Everything under the sun has been tried by the courts including bending over backwards to suit the criminal.

The only solution is to return to capital punishment as these type of people cannot and will not reform in any way.

A R JAMES, Brierfield.