WE NOW have a two-tier system of justice. Thugs who ambushed and shot at the police (The Press, June 8) have rightly been sentenced for up to 30 years, even though no police were injured.

Murder, rape, sexually abuse or grievously harm a member of the public, if you are imprisoned the sentence in years will usually be counted on the fingers of one hand.

When villains are given prison terms for offences against the public, which would be handed down as if the same offence was committed against a police officer, then we will know that our lenient, out-of-touch judges are feeling the same abhorrence of crime as the public.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington.