WE should not walk on by when we see crime or anti-social behaviour being committed, says Home Secretary Jack Straw.

But fine though this is in theory, in practice would not ordinary citizens have no need to run the risk of either a kicking from a criminal lout or a mouthful of abuse from a young vandal if the police were around on the beat like they used to be to do the job Mr Straw now wants us to?

I do not see why they cannot be - not when Lancashire Constabulary can muster the manpower to stop 30,000 motorists in a month to find five over the drink-drive limit.

Maybe Mr Straw wants to make better use of PC Plod before expecting the Percy Sugden sorts to volunteer as unpaid bobbies.

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