A REPORT has revealed that Britain's murder rate has reached its highest level since records began more than a century ago.
A study of 20 police forces shows that killings were up 22 per cent in London, 13 per cent in West Yorkshire and 10 per cent in Greater Manchester. The murder rate is now 20 per cent higher than when Labour came to power in 1997.
In contrast in the USA, France and Germany, the figures have dropped since 1995. I agree with Commander Andy Baker, head of the Metropolitan Police Murder Squad that carrying a gun should mean an immediate five-year jail sentence.
This Government came to power with the pledge that they would be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. I see little evidence of that pledge being fulfilled.
COUNCILLOR D PEARSON, Rawsthorne Street, Blackburn.
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