The day aims to dispel myths and give a true picture of crime in the UK.

It also looks at how you can avoid being a victim and asks what can be done to reduce crime rates.

"Crime has become such a hot potato that sometimes we have to stand back and take an honest view of what is really going on," says Nick Ross.

BBC One will devote much of the day to Cracking Crime including news programmes, live and interactive shows and discussions, advice, personal stories and films from across the UK.

BBC radio is also taking part with programmes on Radio 2, Radio Five Live and across BBC local radio.

Viewers and listeners can play an active role in the event by putting their views and questions to the people who can make a difference.

Are we doing enough to tackle crime? Are using resources in the right way? Do we need a more visible police presence on the streets?

This Talking has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The area where I live is now virtually lawless

Richard, Manchester, England

I live in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, where young hooligans make peoples' lives a misery by committing vandalism, theft and intimidation. There are never any police around to catch them. My housing estate has seen a rise in reported crime of 85% in the last year. Yet the amount of police officers in Greater Manchester has actually dropped since Labour came to power. I have watched as youths stole my neighbour's car in broad daylight - when I phoned the police they said it was a "low priority" incident. The area where I live is now virtually lawless. Mr Blair should come and walk around here to experience a bit of reality.
Richard, Manchester, England

The police have a nickname round here - we call them tourists. I am not anti-police but I have no trust in them any more. I am a 56 year old grandmother and I have never committed any crimes, so I don't have a personal beef with the police. My only complaint is that in our area the police are as rare as the dodo.
Ann Aldredge, England

There is a core of people I arrest every week - if they are arrested in the morning, they are back out stealing in the afternoon

Anon, England

I believe that one of the biggest problems society faces is the court system. I work as a store detective for a high street retailer and there is a core of people I arrest every week. All they receive is a caution and if they are arrested in the morning they are back out stealing in the afternoon. The laws of the land are not even applied. A person who is banned from entering a store for stealing can be arrested for burglary if they commit another offence in the same store but in seven years I have never once seen this happen. If the crime levels are to be brought down these people need to removed from the environments that cause them to offend.
Anon, England

Although we keep hearing about zero tolerance regarding crime, when it comes to dealing with criminals, it is becoming all too common to hear that the perpetrators get reduced punishments because they have a social excuse for their behaviour such as coming from single parent families or a background of drug abuse. Should the victim not be thought of more than the criminal and what they are going through?
Alan Barton, UK

If shortage of funding is the problem why not let the local community sponsor local policing

A Graham, Scotland, UK

There is debate about whether CCTV is cutting crime but after being on jury service I am sure that conviction rates must be improved. Also it would be much more useful to have police on the beat preventing crime than spending half their time filling in forms after the crime has been committed. If shortage of funding is the problem why not let the local community sponsor local policing in addition to that already supplied?
A Graham, Scotland, UK

The problem with all these debates is that they will not go anywhere when you have leadership who will censor the truth, and refuse to listen to the man on the ground. When Jack Straw was Home Secretary he visited a part of South London which was apparently hard hit by anti social behaviour, graffiti, car thefts and so on. Apart from the fact that he was surrounded by so much security, he never saw the real facts as the Council and other agencies worked for three days clearing the place up to make it look presentable!
Andrew, England

Graffiti is a big problem here in Southeast London - I would make the vandals clean it off with toothbrushes for ten hours a day!
Mark, UK

Many of the students I taught in secondary schools didn't think muggings or breaking-and-entering were 'real' crimes. Perhaps their parents didn't think so either. There needs to be a 'no tolerance' attitude towards crime in general. Stop glamorising it on TV and films. Added police presence would be the answer, but people aren't willing to pay what it genuinely costs.
Arri, London, UK/US

As a prison officer at a young offenders' institute, I feel it's not the length of sentence but the soft way the trainees are treated which is the problem. Each offender is given a welcome pack on arrival, containing sweets, drawing book, colouring pencils, playing cards, phone cards, shower gel etc. His room (not cell) will have a television and he will be allowed a CD player, radio, Playstation, carpet, curtains etc. We have boys coming back time after time because it's easy. Tougher regimes are needed to make the experience a real deterrent.
Anonymous, England

I think that the Criminal Justice system is depicted unfairly

Vicky, England

I think that the Criminal Justice system is depicted unfairly. Many fail to see the wider picture such as lack of funding, failure of witnesses to attend hearings and legal restrictions that bar the police. As someone who works within the CJS it is demoralising to see light sentences imposed.
Vicky, England

People who say prison isn't the answer are missing the point. Prison is a "Punishment" and it takes the offender off the streets and puts them where they cannot do any more harm. I believe that is where they should be.
John Arter, England

The police are a joke, the criminal justice system is laughable and judges are soft; all this is because we have too many liberal do-gooders who think punishment of offenders is wrong. They believe that we should be softly rehabilitating criminals and not locking them up.
Anthony, Accrington, Lancashire, UK

When did you last see a policeman walking down your road?

Colin, England

Yes we do need far more police on the beat (when did you last see a policeman walking down your road?), but when they do catch criminals we need the judges to give criminals harsh deterrent sentences instead of letting them off lightly.
Colin, England

I am appalled by the number of magistrate's courts that are being closed, most notably within London. The result is the most vulnerable victims travelling further for their day in court. How can this assist the battle to combat crime?
Peter Brooke, UK

We need to make long prison sentences mandatory for certain offences. Say, 20 years for drug trafficking, 10 years for drug dealing. No parole until the last two years. We also need mandatory lock-ups for juvenile offenders.
George Lee, UK

I read in a survey earlier this year that the average British policeman spends only 17% of his/her time on the beat. I can well believe it, the sight of a copper on the beat is certainly rare in the UK. Get your police off their backsides and away from their computers and paperwork. If the police spent 50% of their workday on bikes or on foot patrol perhaps you might see some results.
Paul Dee, USA

Is it any wonder that crime is epidemic?

Greg Burton, USA

Criminals know that UK citizens are sitting ducks, without the means to protect their lives and property. Is it any wonder that crime is epidemic?
Greg Burton, USA

On release from prison, Repeat offenders should be given a five year suspended sentence which will forever be hanging over them. Put one foot out of place and they go back to Prison to serve the rest of their previous sentence and the five years suspended. Upon release the same would apply again.
John Smyth, UK

As a high proportion of anti-social behaviour is alcohol-fuelled, businesses involved in the production, distribution, advertising and sale of alcohol ought to pay a levy. This could be used for additional police funding and for paying for clearing up the mess and damage caused by drunken yobs.
Alex B, UK

I had never been a victim of crime until I came to the UK

Martin, UK

I had never been a victim of crime until I came to the UK. Two months ago my car was broken into and my bag with a laptop and a watch given to me by my father was stolen. Yesterday my partner had her car broken into and the stereo taken. This was in a car park that is monitored with CCTV and is located next to the police station! I love the UK, but I'm thinking of going home now more than ever.
Martin, UK

As usual in this country we want vast amounts of money to be spent on tackling the problem (in this case on more police) without being prepared to pay the necessary taxes to fund it.
Peter, UK

I was, perhaps mistakenly, always under the impression that parents were responsible for the actions of their children until the children reach 16/18. So why not charge the parents. Sooner or later the message has to get across. This of course depends on the courts not folding and giving in to European molly coddling.
David, Scotland

Criminals know their rights better than victims and seem to be treated with more consideration

SDW, UK

There is a growing lack of respect for other people and property. Youths don't seem to know right from wrong, and laugh at the police and justice system. Criminals know their rights better than victims and seem to be treated with more consideration. We need more local police living within communities as they did in the past. They should get to know the locals and the rogues. We also need to bring back punishment to fit the crime. Prison for those who are a danger to the community and community service for vandals.
SDW, UK

Crime is increasing rapidly and I think the reason for this is because of the fact that a criminals gets it easy. If a criminal gets arrested it is seen as a bit of fun and they are aware that if they do get imprisonment their sentence will be short. Inside it is seen more as a free luxury hotel nowadays rather than a place to avoid. Something needs to be done now!
Mary-Bell Nowl, England

I think that the figures regarding police numbers being banded about by the government and the Scottish Executive are offering a distorted view to the public. Whilst I am in no position to refute the number of officers in total, I can say from personal experience that the number of front line shift officers are at alarmingly low levels and this has a direct impact on the level of service we can provide to the public.
PJ, Scotland

It's not about more punishment it's about causes. Our comprehensive schools are run like grammar schools, forcing non-academic kids to do academic subjects causing truancy and disillusionment. Both of these results are at the root of anti-social behaviour. We should offer lessons for practical skills to regain self-esteem and a sense of purpose. Outside school we should invest in projects to encourage skills and sport.
Gareth Protheroe, UK

I think the judges are really out of touch

R Ralston, UK

The police don't do a bad job. I think the judges are really out of touch and give far too lenient sentences thus there is then no real discouragement for the criminal
R Ralston, UK

All we are getting is fudged figures. There is no sign that police action against crime has improved where I live in the North East. Nothing will change until the police have no political interference, more recruits, a zero tolerance policy to any type of crime and a free hand from racist attitudes.
Baz, UK

Teenagers believe that the police do not do anything to solve the problem. Why do they have this view? The young people today should have confidence and trust in the police. Most adults believe that teenagers are just trouble makers and all they do is get drunk every night, and do things they are not allowed to. That is why crime hits the teenagers, because the villains know we are too scared to say anything.
Pearl Lewis, 15, England

In a country where the system fails the victim and benefits the criminal, is it any wonder we're the laughing stock of the free world. Well done Labour, doing a fantastic job!!
S-M , UK

I do think a largely absent Prime Minister must share the blame

Kenneth Jessett, USA (ex UK)

I do think a largely absent Prime Minister must share the blame. I'm afraid that he just does not seem to have any interest in the subject. Britain's government has at its disposal all the laws it needs to deal with this problem. The problem is that Mr. Blair does not care to be troubled with the nation's crime wave whilst Mr. Bush is beckoning. Now if we could just get Bush to tell Blair to do his duty for his own people we might get some action.
Kenneth Jessett, USA

To be an effective deterrent, prison must be an unpleasant place to be in.
Corry Osborne, Northern Ireland

Our local council spent a fortune on installing CCTV but half the cameras don't work, and the system is not monitored by the police but by a night watchman on a local trading estate.
Jon, England

I think that the police are a complete failure

Perri T, England

I think that the police are a complete failure. They rarely ever prevent crimes and therefore crime is growing. The police need to get their act together fast!
Perri T, England

We seem to be using most of our police officers for catching the speeding motorist. Recently I counted no less than a dozen officers on a ONE mile stretch of road.
Mark J, UK

The Police should protect all members of society regardless of "class". As it is, if you live in a big house and drive a posh car, the Police will be very quick to respond, on the other hand, if you live on a council estate and drive an old car/don't have a car, they can't be bothered to turn up.
Richard B, UK

More visible police on the streets patrolling the town centres at all times. In our village in Cambridgeshire we have virtually no police patrolling at night.
Don Findlay, England

The European Court of Human Rights is one of the main reasons for the lack of justice in Britain today

Paul L, England

The European Court of Human Rights is one of the main reasons for the lack of justice in Britain today. If a prisoner is given a tough sentence, then all they have to do is appeal that it is "infringing their right to freedom", and they are released and given compensation.
Paul L, England

I believe we need standardised punishments and harsher prisons. I know most sentences are used for rehabilitation, but surely this time in prison should be a deterrent too. Spending most of the day in a cell with just four walls, a bed and toilet should be enough to put anyone off committing a crime. Unfortunately I feel the UK legal system just isn't tough enough.
Jane, UK

In our area some of the vandals and troublemakers now do bets on who can get the most convictions against them. As they know that even if the police catch them, then the courts will not give them a harsh sentence that will stop them re-offending.
Peter, Scotland

I believe more resources needs to be put towards reducing hard drug addiction as the vast majority of property based crime is drug related. Having been burgled three times this year and I believe I am suffering from the effects of drug use in the area. The police are in an almost impossible situation - it is not practical to have a police officer on every corner and the number of cases where someone is charged but not even brought to court is frightening.
Stephen Pye, Leeds, UK

The criminals get a cushy ride. If you want the most shocking program on TV list a random selection of cases, theft, assault etc and get the public to guess the sentence. Methinks there would be total outrage if the public really knew how lightly these criminals get off. Show the victims, show the effects of the crimes and then the criminal and the punishment they receive. I think that these pressure groups calling for prison reform (with even lighter sentences) would be sunk. Go on BBC I dare you.
Nicholas Falkirk, United Kingdom

I think the police are a joke, they only seem to target the weaker people in society for breaking small crimes for example speeding, while they leave drug dealers and gangsters free to do what they wish. This is a very sad state of affairs. The majority of people are scared to walk the streets - the police should walk the streets under cover to see how real life is like.
Harry McCartney, Scotland

Politicians do not have the courage to be hard on crime

Richard P, UK

Sentencing rules seem not to take into account the damage both emotionally and financially to the victim. Imprisonment should be hard and uncomfortable and the sentence should always include reparation. In my view sentences should be longer and harder. It's a joke that criminals only serve half the sentence. Where is the justice in that for the victim? Politicians do not have the courage to be hard on crime. They just make the right noises when it comes to getting our votes, and do nothing to improve things.
Richard P, UK

Walking in the centre of Sheffield in the early hours of the morning trying to find a taxi I felt at risk. I went to the central police station to wait for a taxi I had called but it was locked and there wasn't a soul in sight. I could have been attacked on their doorstep and nobody would have known.
Wendy W, UK

Community service is a great way of getting offenders to make good some of the damage they've caused from their crime. It makes a really valuable contribution to local neighbourhoods, teaches the offenders good work skills and makes it less likely that they'll commit more crime in future.
Marion Janner, England

I'm 16 and just started college. Yesterday I was beaten up on the way home by some kids because I didn't have a cigarette. The nearest policeman? Your guess is as good as mine...
T. Prince, England

Why don't we lock prisoners up for their full term?

Dario, UK

We're so soft on crime that this country ought to be called the marshmallow state! Why don't we lock prisoners up for their full term instead of letting them out halfway through their sentence for good behaviour? If the problem is lack of space either build more prisons or let them stay cramped.
Dario, UK

Crime like drugs is based on supply and demand. The next time you buy a cheap DVD or phone from "a friend of a friend" use your intelligence and conscience to determine why it is so cheap.
Trev, England

As a magistrate, I see the same people time and time again in court. We should be targeting young people in school and the wider community, showing them the cost of crime and the effect on the victim mentally, physically and monetary.
Jenny, UK

If "Jenny, UK" is seeing the same people time and time again as a magistrate, why doesn't she try locking them up for longer?
Frank, England

In response to Jenny the magistrate. You are in a position to act on what people want. Now do your job properly. Or do you not get affected by crime living in your million pound house behind an eight foot steel fence.
Chris Z, UK

What is there for young people to do?

Martyn Quinn, USA (UK)

The recent cemetery attack by youths in Bristol had me thinking, what is there for young people to do? I struggled to find places to hang out and play as a kid, and many of those spots are now built on. A major step in tackling youth crime would be to provide an alternative to causing damage or stealing.
Martyn Quinn, USA (UK)

Martyn Quinn, 20 years ago when I was 13 I didn't have anywhere to 'hang' out other than street corners either. No 'things' to do or places to go. But I never went to the local cemetary and vandalized dozens of childrens graves. The problem runs much deeper than a lack of stuff to do. There is a deep malaise in modern society, and our impressionable youth are particularly infected by it. I don't think there is a solution at all. I think it's going to get worse and worse. Seems to me modern societies are slowly disintegrating. On the other hand, thank your lucky stars you don't live in any West African nation.
B Thompson, UK

Why does Blair not put every young criminal who claims unemployment and poverty as a reason for battering old ladies, into National Service? Other countries in the EU do it, so why not us? The crime and unemployment rate would plummet! As nothing is working now is it?
Eileen, UK

My boyfriend has been attacked several times while cycling to or from work. He is not a big lad and has not got a violent or aggressive bone in his body. I think it is disgusting that he walks around his home town in fear of it happening again. The justice system in this country is far too soft; these people should not be allowed to get away with their behaviour.
Hannah, UK

Our police care and should be applauded, instead of being criticised by a cynical public

John, UK

In reply to Christopher Biggs, England, and his comment on 300 of our Police visiting the States to show their respects to the victims of 11 September. I would like to point out that these officers have paid the fares and accommodation through their own pockets and have also taken annual leave to show their feelings. Do you not think these actions show that our police care and should be applauded, instead of being criticised by an increasing cynical public.
John, UK

Do you really think more Police will make you safer? They show up after you have been attacked! They have an impossible job and can't be everywhere. Self-preservation is a human right!
Sean Drake, USA

Yes, the police force in the UK is second to none in the world. What we should be asking is whether the public do more especially parents. There's no excuse for any sort of bad behaviour, but what do you when teenagers, or older people for that matter, repeatedly re-offend? I think we should give them a very simple ultimatum: tell them to stop or they will be thrown out of the country, never to be returned. It worked quite well a few centuries ago!
Oblix, Great Britain

I feel sorry for the police who take on all kinds of dangers to get the criminal into court only to find that some out of touch judge gives out a namby-pamby sentence. There is no deterrent any more and the criminals know this. As for the do-gooders who say we are not treating criminals with respect, they are in the same category as these judges. Let's hit the criminal with far stiffer sentences and create a real deterrent for them to think about. Otherwise, the only winner will be the criminal and the victim, the loser.
Martin, USA

The idea of putting criminals in the armed forces is a none-starter and would be totally unfair on the decent guys who join to make it their career. Buy a security camera, a German Shepherd and get the courts to hand down relevant sentences.
John Preston, England

Why should decent people pay through the nose for rights for those who prey on the weak and innocent?

Barry P

Since all the experts are agreed that prison does not reform the criminal is it not time that we stopped wasting a fortune trying? Why should decent people pay through the nose for rights for those who prey on the weak and innocent? Sir Winston Churchill is often quoted as saying that a country could be judged by the way it treated its prisoners. He was writing in the shadow of the Nazi concentration camps. We now have a situation where anyone from outside would have trouble judging a country that treats its convicted prisoners better than its old people or disabled.
Barry P, England

Just watching BBC 6 o'clock news on 10 September and I'm quite incensed that we have over 300 officers walking the beat in the US, to show some comradeship with what happened on Sep 11 2001. The sentiments might be commendable but with the crime rates soaring here in the UK, they should be patrolling our inner city streets. Surely there could have been a better way for the police force to show their respects? This seems to be a gross waste of tax-payers money.
Christopher Biggs, England

Zero Tolerance is one aspect of law enforcement we should adopt. Until prison (or some other punishment) is a deterrent, criminals will not fear the consequences of crime.
Richard Murray, London, UK

Until now the balance has been in favour of the criminal. There is only a short sentence for rape or killing while drunk-driving. It is time to put the balance in favour of the victims. The punishment for a crime should be a deterrent not a joke!
Saeed, Oxford, England

I live in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, about 5 minutes by car from Chequers. We have a police station that is manned for a couple of hours twice a week. We pay for a police service - the same as the rest of the country - but never see a Police Officer. If we need to contact the police station for any reason other than 999 the phone rings without being answered until the line goes dead. It is a hopeless shambles. What also gets my goat is that I pay to give criminals three square meals a day, a roof over their head, medical care, and a good education. However I cannot afford to go to evening classes for myself. Who said that crime doesn't pay?
Erika, England

Having lived in the UK for quite a few years I personally was never the victim of a mugging or robbery (thank goodness) and generally felt quite safe living in London. But people in the UK are obviously sick and tired of the perpetrators of crime getting light sentences. Recently here in Australia the leader of a disgusting group of gang rapists was sentenced to 55 years in jail, hooray for the judge I say.
Janelle, Australia

Prisoners should be made to do military service

Russ, UK

Prisoners should be made to do useful work or perhaps military service abroad, to pay back the community they have afflicted. With electronic tagging it should be easy. It needn't be backbreaking or cruel, but there are plenty of undesirable jobs out there that would be perfect for small and medium-time crooks.
Russ, UK

I am originally from South Africa and I know quite a few South African's who have never been mugged in South Africa but have been mugged in London. London is not as safe as it use to be and I feel things are getting worse.
John, South Africa (United Kingdom)

Parents and society in general should start to take more responsibility for their actions. I'm sick of criminals blaming a hard life, they still have a choice and choose the break the law.
Cath Tomlinson, England

The Government is much too busy banning fox hunting to sort out trivial things like the huge increase in street crime. Tony Blair should be ashamed.
Guy, UK

The biggest single change would be to prevent bail for anybody who is arrested for a crime when already on bail. That way, the persistent offenders would not just be released back on the streets to re-offend.
Simon Richardson, UK

A solution is to make all criminal records a public record

Richard, Leeds, UK

If people knew you were a criminal then quite rightly you would feel ashamed. Perhaps a solution is to make all criminal records a public record. Why have a debt to society to pay, if society knows nothing about it?
Richard, Leeds, UK

I live in a town where the police station closes at 5pm. So what do they do after 5pm? Paperwork is my guess. Cut down on the unnecessary paperwork and then maybe the police will spend more time on the streets thus lowering the crime rate.
Kirsty, UK

I remember being a probationer constable at the time of the 1997 general election, which saw the Labour Party back in power. At the time an older officer made a prophecy that our job would now become very difficult as the faceless loony left members of the party were now in the corridors of power and that they were no friends of the Police. How right he was, since then we have, low morale, frustration, political correctness, spineless management, no support, labelled racists, endless paperwork. The way the British public are made to suffer through this is a crime in itself.
John, UK

You defend yourself against a mugger and they'll prosecute you. You get battered and nothing is done, or very little. In both cases, you lose.
David, UK

We need to ignore the professional do-gooders and tackle the real causes

Philip, UK

We have a fair bit of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage from youngsters and it's steadily getting worse. We need to ignore the professional do-gooders and tackle the real causes, family breakdown, schools that leave far too many boys illiterate and unemployable, and the absence of any effective sanctions against very young offenders and their parents (at the age where intervention would really make a difference).
Philip, UK

We never do enough to combat crime. As long as we keep molly coddling criminals and feeling sorry for them we will never reduce crime rates. We need to increase sentences, ensure that criminals serve their time and stop worrying about criminals living conditions when they are inside. Punishment for crimes committed should be exactly that, punishment. Also, we need to increase expenditure in the police force, but we can't do that because no-one wants to pay more taxes to pay for it.
Phil T, Cornishman in Oman

We would be better to look closely at Singapore or Malaysia where the law means the law

Nick S, UK

Because of the ineffectual punishments handed out these days by the courts, the youths of today have been given free reign to act as they wish. This combined with basic lack of parental control has led to a lack of respect for authority or property. We would be better to look closely at Singapore or Malaysia where the law means the law. People think twice about offending there!
Nick S, UK

I heard today that six out of ten prisoners re-offend within two years of release from custodial sentences. Instead of making life tougher for people in jails, we need to do more educational work whilst they are inside, and provide more opportunities for them to be members of society upon release.
Martin, London, UK

I'm sick of hearing of criminals being awarded compensation

Glen, UK

Personally I'm sick of hearing of criminals being awarded compensation at the taxpayers' expense every time a public servant makes any mistake, or if a victim uses what somebody later judges excessive force. Those with unspent criminal convictions should lose all rights to legal aid (except appealing their convictions) or receive monetary compensation from anybody.
Glen, UK

In the past week we have just had two crimes reported in our local newspaper. An elderly lady mugged for her handbag on a Sunday morning on the way to church. Another younger woman punched fell off her bike and mugged again in broad daylight. As a woman this is the first time I have been scared to go out on my own. I think the Police do a fine job but the Government will be to blame until Tony Blair stops taking on the role of King Richard and fighting the crusades.
Karen, UK

Policemen are as frustrated as I am

Diana, U.K

The question was "Are we doing enough about crime? The answer is we aren't doing anything about crime! The politicians sit behind the gates of Downing Street and in the Houses of Parliament (both swarming with police!) while the rest of us are at the mercy of muggers and thieves. I have spoken to several policemen recently and they are as frustrated as I am.
Diana, U.K.

The crime levels in some boroughs of London (our so called capital) are absolutely shocking and disgraceful! You get better crime levels in some third world countries! No wonder Britain and especially London is now regarded as one of the most crime-ridden countries in the western world which is totally disgraceful!
Liam, England

Until such times as the government (and the Law) are prepared to put victims welfare before that of the criminal there will never be a true justice system in this country
Kevin, Scotland

The only thing that will bring down crime is when the police are allowed to get on with their jobs

Simon Mallett, UK

The only thing that will bring down crime is when the police are allowed to get on with their jobs rather than being forever undermined by our liberal lefty courts that seem to have a vendetta against the middle classes.
Simon Mallett, UK

As most petty crime is committed by adolescents and young adults surely this reflects the current trend of lack of parental control.
Hazel, UK

Zero tolerance was introduced in Cleveland, England. It worked but the police officer who introduced it was hounded out. Perhaps this is to do with all the sleaze associated with our politicians/officials. Start punishing them more with heavy fines/jail sentences instead of an upward move from politician to Member of the Board and we might get somewhere.
Michael, Scotland

The trouble is that there is no credible deterrent. Parents don't teach their children morals anymore, judges are too soft, penalties are too light, criminals aren't reformed and the victims are forgotten about. And until all of this changes, we are still going to have problems.
Leon, U.K

Visible police presence is only a part of the solution

Patricia Vanderveer, Merseyside, UK

Since returning to live in England in February this year, I have twice been the victim of robbery. Once on a train from Manchester to Liverpool and once when my handbag was removed from between my feet in a Liverpool coffee shop. Police presence was high, but both robberies took place in front of member of the general public, who saw suspicious acts and people, but failed to do and say anything to police, who were close by. Visible police presence is only a part of the solution, we need a concerned, involved and receptive public and cooperation between agencies.
Patricia Vanderveer, Merseyside, UK

Prisoners seem to view 'doing time' as a bit of a holiday these days. I'm not advocating mistreating offenders in prison, but they do need to realise they are being punished for their crimes. A balance needs to be found to act as a deterrent to crime.
Rich, UK

I believe that this country is too soft on criminals. I had to laugh yesterday when I saw that the poor inmates at Saughton Prison are having to share cells. Big deal! Students often have to share cramped rooms in halls of residence with strangers, and pay high prices for the privilege!
Lesley, Scotland

Zero tolerance to crime in New York has worked

James Whistler, UK

The most frustrating aspect of this debate is that the answer is clear and has been proven to be effective in the recent past and in one of the more extreme environments possible, namely New York. Zero tolerance to crime in New York has worked. Crime has been dramatically reduced as a consequence of this approach. This is fact and is beyond debate. Why our ineffectual government have not implemented such an approach should be the topic of this debate, not the question of how to reduce crime.
James Whistler, UK

The police are clearly doing vast amounts of work on bringing to book those heinous motorists who insist on doing 80 on an empty motorway. Unfortunately the increasing numbers of social and street crimes appear not to warrant the same attention, so muggers and burglars roam the streets while their victims are persecuted in their cars.
John B, UK

It might help if the Prime Minister was in the country enough to see the crime explosion instead of going on jaunts all over the world and being enclosed in spin that he thinks we are all stupid enough to take in.
Dave K, UK