ONE of the difficulties of defeating street crime is that Britain's New Labour Establishment is largely immune from the problem. The middle classes that put Blair into power are increasing, whereas the working classes are numerically in decline. This is because most jobs are now white collar, our manufacturing base almost completely destroyed by foreign sweatshop competition. The great armies of manual workers which bestowed power to old Labour back in the 1960s and 70s have vanished.

Consequently, there is now an imbalance of influence. A vin rouge socialist driving home to his nice road after an evening spent at a restaurant is quite safe. But an ordinary bloke walking home from the pub along one of Worcester's main arterial routes is at risk.

It will only be when our new ruling class starts to feel under pressure from crime that the Government will take the measures for which all decent people yearn.