Get tough to clear up crime on our streets

PAUL BRACCHI’S article about people in London living in fear of gang violence (Mail) was terrifying and depressingly predictable. The police have lost the streets.

To tackle this, we need to drop the politically correct approach to policing. Officers should be given adequate powers to stop and search, and be armed with sprays, Tasers and, if needed, guns to take back control.

Banging up criminals in druginfested prisons is not the answer. This only deals with the consequences and doesn’t address the root cause.

The problem is that we reward the young, stupid and feckless who have children. We give them benefits and provide them with housing so they do not have to face up to the responsibility that parenthood should bring.

Fathers walk away from their commitments with impunity and society is expected to pick up the pieces. Not surprisingly, children brought up in straitened circumstances, dependent on the state, become disillusioned and feel they are at the edge of society.

Boys who lack a male role model look for other ways to grow their self- esteem and street gangs fill the gap.

What is the solution? Reward couples who have children; stop putting single parents at the front of the benefits queue; impose a strong community policing policy in areas that are out of control; and give the police the political, financial and legal support they need to tackle lawlessness. JACKIE EDWARDS,

address supplied. CLAIMS that the police are retreating from our streets gives the impression that we once lived in the world of TV’s Dixon Of Dock Green when everyone knew their friendly local bobby.

I was born in East London and live in Essex, and I have never seen officers on the beat.

Leave the police to decide where they can do most good quickly and that is not strolling up and down our streets. Mrs JEAn AnGUS,

address supplied.