READING the headlines about crimes where knives and horrific violence have been used, I would like to ask: Where is the deterrent in this country?

I would send out the strongest possible message by bringing back capital punishment, with a national database of everyone’s DNA.

I can hear do-gooders saying that it is against human rights, but murderers have been caught through DNA.

We have had a number of murders in recent years, and we have a police force which has less manpower, therefore not so much protection now for the public.

The fact is that no one is safe in today’s Britain. There are knives, guns and any other weapons you can think of which people will use. You only have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Let’s bring back hanging. This would make huge, huge savings to the taxpayer and make lots of room in our cosy prisons, and more importantly the punishment fits the crime!

Any MP or chief constable who would like to reply through the pages of the Lancashire Telegraph, please feel free to do so, because we, as members of the law-abiding club, want to know what is the strongest possible message, if any, that you are sending out?

Warren Hutchinson, Blackburn.