The grim truth about Wild West Britain

FOR months the Mail has reported the gruesome anecdotal evidence – the knife-point robberies, the brazen moped attacks – of rising lawlessness across Britain. Indeed, barely a day passes without some new horror, such as the brutal assault last week on the UK’s former ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer.

It might be reassuring to think these are isolated incidents occurring mostly in the capital, but as today’s poll shows, that is a fiction. Nearly six in ten Britons think crime is spiralling out of control, and don’t trust the police to keep the streets safe.

Indeed, the survey confirms all of the Mail’s worst fears about the justice system.

One in four people say they don’t feel safe at night near their homes… nearly two-thirds say they haven’t seen a bobby on the beat for more than a year… half of victims say officers didn’t bother to knock on their door…

It also confirms that many people share the Mail’s view that officers are stymied by rampant political correctness.

And while the Left will shroud-wave about budget cuts, the Mail has an alternative explanation for spiralling fear of crime.

Offenders know they have little chance of getting caught, and even if caught red-handed, are likely to get away with a slap on the wrist. The result: they are utterly unafraid of the justice system.

Regrettably, there’s no sign ministers have woken up to this growing menace. And if their plans to scrap prison sentences of 12 months or less go ahead – inevitably leaving more thugs out on the streets – things are only going to get worse.