A CRIME prevention conference being held in Blackburn today was being told that three quarters of the people living in Blackburn have been victims of crime in the last five years.

These shocking figures are produced by a survey which also says half of all residents, particularly women and the elderly, don't feel safe walking alone after dark.

It is a sad reflection on today's society, although there is no doubt that some people could do more to help themselves by taking simple precautions.

Today's sad story of the pensioner whose life savings, kept in a bag under her bed, were stolen is a case in point.

But crime will be an important plank in the election platforms of the major parties.

Decent, law-abiding citizens in this country are absolutely sickened by the volume of crime and the lack of punishment meted out to those who commit it.

There is a strong feeling that the criminal is getting away with it and that the vociferous "do-gooders" in our society are more concerned with the welfare of the perpetrators than that of the victims.

Today's conference in Blackburn, attended by shadow home secretary Jack Straw, is a positive step in the war against crime.

But the public, or at least the law-abiding section of it, want action - and they want it quickly.

They are sick of soft sentences, and who can blame them?

While these "enlightened" sentences have been handed down, the crime rate has soared.

We have reached a state where certain crimes, such as thefts from cars and burglary are accepted as part of modern life.

It is hardly surprising that the public is losing faith in law enforcement when the police merely note the details of a car break-in and give the victim a crime number for insurance claim purposes.

The public want to see a complete crack down on all forms of crime - and punishments which deter criminals rather than encourage them.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.