IN the old days, if you stole a sheep, you were hanged. These days a crime which ends with someone dying incurs a few months in jail. In many cases, jail is more comfortable than the criminals' home.

The death sentence is barbaric and because of the rare mistake and ending the life of an innocent person, rightly abolished. However, there is not a punishment today that acts as a deterrent.

Criminals are not afraid of prison. Their freedom is denied but many of them escape or get remission. Very few reform when let out.

One reads all the time of drunk drivers killing people and getting a sentence of months, rather than life, and not even banned from driving for life. How can this possibly be right?

Not only are decent people afraid to go out at night but also the daytime is now no safeguard against attacks. Unless one is barricaded in one's home, and never, repeat never, opens the front door to anyone unknown, you are not safe from attack, sometimes for only a meagre sum of money.

A neighbour who moved into my road has a son. The first week they arrived he was knocking on my door asking for a wire coat hanger.

As a police officer's widow, I knew exactly what he wanted it for and it has made me extremely nervous ever since.

I never go out after 5pm and never leave my home for more than an hour at any time.

I do not go on holiday and I do not accept invitations to social events.

If I was ill in the night, no one could get in. Without police assistance walking the dog is no pleasure as I am wary of strangers and keep to a residential area. I would never go into woods or down lanes, always keeping to areas where I can knock on a door for help.

Even shopping can be nerve wracking. Queuing in a shop one has to be on guard for purse-snatchers. In the streets, mugging is a hazard. Now we have to watch out for dognappers.

On no account can you retaliate or carry any sort of weapon. If you do, you are arrested but the attacker goes free.

No wonder so many British people are moving abroad.

BRITISH RESIDENT