FOLLOWING his recent suggestion that Durham should have shooting galleries for drug addicts, a suggestion based on the premise that if they get their hit for free, addicts will refrain from crime to feed their habit, Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg suggests we should go easy on shoplifters.

Firstly, shoplifting is theft, just as graffiti is criminal damage.

To give a crime a cosy sociological sobriquet does not stop it being a crime.

Mr Hogg states that not being content with the tinned products of food banks, thieves have turned to stealing fresh food.

People steal because they think they can get away with it.

People in authority, such as Mr Hogg, providing them with a tailor made excuse merely encourages, rather than dissuades, criminal behaviour.

I should wish to remind Mr Hogg that theft is not a victimless crime.

CT Mortimer, Pity Me.