THANK goodness for Sir John Stevens. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has openly challenged the daft stance by the Lord Chancellor that jailing burglars should be the last resort.

Sir John, the country's most senior policeman, is a firm believer in the power of shifting criminals out of society and into prison so that they cannot commit further burglaries, street crimes and murders.

He pledges that burglary is definitely still going to be a high priority and that his police officers will attend each one.

There is one very big difference between the Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine and Sir John. The latter has actually been burgled.