Sir, As we all know, when Labour were in opposition they promised to be tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. Since then we have all seen how empty these words were and this is particularly the case when most of us face numerous criminals being allowed to flout the law when they barge past us on our pavements.

It would seem that most people today have forgotten that since 1835 it is an offence for a cyclist to hinder or obstruct the free passage of a footway or passage or to wilfully ride on any footway or footpath.

Of course policing this law was at times tricky, but those of us who took our cycling proficiency course were taught never to ride on the pavements, and it was never a great problem.

However in 1999, the Government made pavement cycling a fixed penalty offence, with offenders liable to a fine of £20 (now raised to £30) under the Fixed Penalty Offences Order 1999 (combined with the provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988). It is evident from my walk to the shops this lunchtime that Labour's idea of fixed penalty notices is absolutely no deterrent to the modern cyclist.

Once again Labour's desire to put reforms and initiatives before delivery is sadly reflected in the fact that the streets are now more dangerous now than they were in 1997.

Selfish and dangerous cyclists are putting the safety of pedestrians at risk by arrogantly riding roughshod over the law.

William Parsons, Witney