AS recent national crime figures show, it is an unfortunate aspect of society that violent crime is all too common throughout the country.

Explanations for such actions are all too readily available, from poverty and a poor upbringing, to drugs and the old adage "I just had one too many Your Honour."

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that violent incidents have been occurring for as long as people have been walking upon the earth, and will continue to do so.

However what is slightly alarming is the modern day attitude throughout the country of "see no evil, hear no evil" which sometimes prevents witnesses making statements to the police and in court.

In some cases this reluctance is fully understandable, there could be an uncomfortable cost for giving evidence. We do not condemn this hesitancy but sympathise with it.

What is vitally important, however, is that if the fight against crime is to be won, then the police and the courts must have the power to ensure people who do speak out are fully protected.

Criminals must be left with no doubt that if they do take revenge on those brave enough in society to stand up and speak out against them, they will pay a savagely heavy price for their actions.

They must know that while society will treat some crimes with a degree of leniency, this is one boundary it is better not to cross.

By the time this paper hits the streets, MP's will have voted on the future of hunting. Our local MPs have stated in this paper their intention to support a ban. We welcome their forthright openness.

Whatever the future brings for hunting, and whatever one's view of it, we also hope that if a ban is introduced, every effort will be made to support those financially affected by it.