P326 Teletext 326 Dec30 04:23:51 —————— —————— ——————— ———————————————————————— LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK! Where do we get the fastest fix on public opinion - pollsters with clipboards, the letters page in the press? Not any more. Teletext is tops. Our phone polls all year have tapped the public mood on such diverse issues as the morality of nuclear tests or whom Raquel should marry. Today we look at your views on crime and punishment. ——————————————————————————————————1/5—— More than 350,000 viewers voted in 1995 WRITE IN WITH YOUR VIEWS p327 Letters News Quiz Headlines TV PlusP326 Teletext 326 Dec30 04:42:11 —————— —————— ——————— ———————————————————————— SCALES OF JUSTICE The last thing you can accuse voters in Teletext's phone polls of being is all of one mind; left, right or centre. In 1995 there have been majorities for: legalising prostitution and cannabis introducing identity cards arming all the police (82% and 68%) scrapping the Prevention of Terrorism Act. ——————————————————————————————————2/5—— Polls reviewed by Roger Wilkinson JOIN CRIMESTOPPERS p347 Letters News Quiz Headlines TV PlusP326 Teletext 326 Dec30 04:12:31 —————— —————— ——————— ———————————————————————— SCALES OF JUSTICE That great legal gravy train, the OJ Simpson trial, opened the year. Six in 10 wanted no truck with courtroom TV. On the street, attitudes to violence were hardening. In March, 66% of you agreed that the police should be armed. A month later, a London PC was shot dead. Our same poll showed 82% backing. ——————————————————————————————————3/5—— More than 350,000 viewers voted in 1995 WRITE IN WITH YOUR VIEWS p327 Letters News Quiz Headlines TV PlusP326 Teletext 326 Dec30 04:41:15 —————— —————— ——————— ———————————————————————— SCALES OF JUSTICE What a wretched 1995 Michael Howard has had - rapped bz judges, panned by the prison reformers, reviled by refugees. Twice (after Fred West killed himself in jail and when hj sacked prisons boss Derek Lewis) we asked if hj should go. A total of 4,441 calls were received. Only 333 (8%) backed the hapless Home Secretary. ——————————————————————————————————4/5—— Polls reviewed by Roger Wilkinson WRITE IN WITH YOUR VIEWS p327 Letters News Quiz Headlines TV PlusP326 Teletext 326 Dec30 04:11:31 —————— —————— ——————— ———————————————————————— SCALES OF JUSTICE The much talked of "feel-good" factor has certainly not stretched to the topic of crime and punishment. In September the Government trumpeted reported crime figures which showed 10% less crime, including violence. But when we asked "Has the tide turned?", only three per cent voted for the Canute option. ——————————————————————————————————5/5—— More than 350,000 viewers voted in 1995 JOIN CRIMESTOPPERS p347 Letters News Quiz Headlines TV Plus