Don't become a victim of crime - you won't get any help. British police and justice have surrendered our streets  - Peter Bleksley

I woke up the following morning without a hint of a hangover, I could remember every minute of a remarkable event, and I forged a lasting appreciation for one of the finer things in life.

Consequently, whenever I’ve watched Formula 1 drivers larking about on the podium as they douse each other with the stuff, I’ve always thought, ‘What a waste.’

By way of stark contrast, when I saw champagne being sprayed outside Wandsworth Prison this week, as friends and family of prisoners celebrated their villainous loved-ones being released early from their sentences, under Keir Starmer’s ludicrous and dangerous scheme, I despaired.

There are those with reasons to be cheerful with their champagne shamelessly hosed all over the tarmac, but the sight of it sickened me, because there is no such thing as a victimless crime.

We all pay well over £100 a year at the till, as retailers look to recoup the losses, they incur because of the shoplifting epidemic that is plaguing our nation.

We all pay higher insurance premiums because of burglary and car crime. And to those who foolishly hoover up industrial quantities of cocaine, as they claim, ‘It’s my choice, no one gets hurt by this’, I can tell them that somewhere along the production and smuggling line, a vulnerable person is being exploited, probably at the end of the barrel of a gun.

We’ve already heard of criminals who have been set free this week, who were serving time for domestic abuse, be that harassment, stalking, assault, or worse.

And behind each case like this, there is a terrified victim, a victim who has been failed, and may once again be living in fear.

It is the primary job of any Government to keep its citizens safe. Countless politicians have failed us in this regard, by not appreciating and acting upon some simple facts. The population of the UK is increasing and has been for a very long time.

Crime rates are, regrettably, on the up. A child could therefore understand that we need to build more prisons.

Yet for decades, insufficient new jails have been built, which is why Starmer is now claiming that he has no choice other than to set thousands of criminals free onto our streets, many of whom will offend again, and again, many with impunity.

British police surrendered the streets a very long time ago, when their foolish, highly educated yet detached leaders, decided that their officers would take on the burden of all of society’s ills, rather than sticking steadfastly to police work.

You know the kind of policing I’m talking about, patrolling their patch, preventing crime, investigating it when it does happen, and catching bad people.

Call me old fashioned, but that’s what I’ve always thought policing was all about.

The Oxbridge educated police bosses will tell you that it’s a lot more complicated than that, but then they would, because it’s those idiots that made it complicated. Which is why, with a heavy heart, that I impart this advice to you.

Please do everything that you can, to ensure that you do not become a victim of crime. Fit that burglar alarm and cctv.

Buy a steering lock for your car, together with a concealed tracker, and front and rear dashcams. And when you venture out onto Britain’s increasingly unsafe streets, do not wear headphones or iPods.

Be aware of your surroundings and be very careful where and when you pull your mobile phone out of your pocket or handbag.

I am very sorry to say this, but in all reality, if you do become a victim of most types of crime, you will not get what I regard as a professional and thorough investigation, so please, stay safe.