Only 32 on prostitution charges?

I admire the tenacity of the Ta' Xbiex mayor and her parliamentarian husband to eradicate the prostitution problem from that area. Yet, sadly, they were not given enough time on a TVM discussion programme to express their constituents' apprehensions, as much of this programme's time was taken up by a fast-talking lawyer seemingly bent on campaigning for the legalisation of this abomination.

Then, too, the ridiculous low figure of just 32 arraigned on prostitution charges in the first nine months this year points to the lax attitude being adopted. In no way do I want to disparage hard- working law and order officials but some politicians do not seem to draw correct conclusions from the wind of change in European electorates.

In France, for example, some politicians got a better showing and managed to challenge the established parties for their abysmal record of law and order priorities. On October 23, the French centre-right government began a new phase of its tough law and order policy by approving legislation imposing harsher penalties on prostitution operators among others.

The current French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, has argued, as quoted by the Financial Times, that the law has been too lax on these issues and allowed crime to increase and criminals to go unpunished. He insisted that "establishing proper safety for the public is the first element in a proper social policy".

The crackdown on prostitution bans soliciting in the streets, imposing a six-month prison sentence and a €3,750 fine for the offence. Residence permits of foreigners involved in prostitution will be withdrawn. The left and some lawyers' groups have criticised this new law but this has been muted by an awareness that the swing to the right - and extreme right - in presidential elections earlier this year was triggered by public concern over lax official attitudes to law and order.

So, whether one is in favour or against joining the EU, evidence is growing that the public will no longer sit back and allow its right to safe surroundings be jeopardised. After all, both sides are agreed on striving to assure the best future for our children, but this comes about through action and not just lip and lax service.