The renewed call for the return of the death penalty is likely to provoke a huge amount of passionate rhetoric on both sides of the argument.

The question of what our society does to deal with those who take another’s life is one that has taxed us for centuries.

So there is nothing new in the voices who are now calling for the return of capital punishment, although the medium they are using – online petitions – is a decidedly modern one. And if Shipley MP Philip Davies gets his way, it will move from online to a full legislative debate in the House of Commons.

The subject is always an emotive one, but if there is a strong feeling it should once again be debated by Parliament, then it should go forward for discussion.

In Bradford in particular, the memories of the horrendous crimes of Peter Sutcliffe and Stephen Griffiths will always cast their own shadow over any debate.

It is understandable why anyone who has had a family member or friend taken from them by an act of lethal violence would like to see retribution meted out for those responsible. Particularly when a life sentence is so often nothing like life.

But state-sanctioned killing is a step many would be reluctant to return to for reasons of conscience. There are also obvious concerns about miscarriages of justice.

If the will is there to bring the issue before Parliament, then that should happen. Let us have a full debate on the subject. But we must be careful not to rush into a decision based purely on emotional instinct.