Two policewomen, Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, were murdered yesterday, and as much as the nation is horrified,bringing back the death penalty would not have prevented these murders.

Darth Tebbit has risen from his grave to push the idea of reinstaing the death penalty based on his own dubious research.

The hard fact is, as violent criminals know perfectly well, a credible threat that a man will lose his life unless he complies with a demand usually results in obedience. I have kept track year by year since the death penalty was suspended, then abolished, of the number of people who have been killed by persons previously convicted of homicide. It has averaged three people a year. About 150 people killed because their killers have been freed to kill again. Would our courts have sentenced to death three innocent people a year, year in year out? I doubt it. I think it is time we thought again about the deterrent effect of the shadow of the gallows.

The arguement will be in full flow over the next few weeks it will probably offer a compromise of only murdering those who kill the police. Hoorah the daily mail readers say, respect and protection for law and order but over the last few years and even the last few days with Hillsborough it has been proven that the police force is riddled with corruption, deceit and racism. This week will be full of rhetoric eugolising the police force as if it was by the grace of god, (another opportunity to sneak in immoral legislation).

Murder is an abhorrent crime and it would be ridiculous to grade the level of the victim – if you kill the unemployed or elderly do you simply get a slap on the wrist? State sponsered murder is simply full of spite and hate and can be to easily swayed by the prejudicial justice system that prevails in this country.