LETTER: War on crime

Sir: There is a terrifying corollary to Lord Taylor's very persuasive argument (report, 7 March) that criminals who risk mandatory life sentences for repeating certain crimes may be tempted to kill their victims where those are the sole witnesses. It is that previously law-abiding people may try to kill real, or imagined, assailants in pre-emptive self-defence. Criminals may therefore go more prepared and/or armed to kill their victims.

Clive Griffiths

London N16