IN this country a multi-billion pound industry has developed in the operation of our judicial system, which has for the most part been an abysmal failure in deterring people from breaking the law.

Sharia law, which is often misunderstood and seen as being draconian, places much more emphasis on providing justice for the victim of crime and therefore has a lot to commend it.

In Muslim nations where Sharia law operates there are fewer executions than in America.

I am not advocating that we adopt Sharia law in its entirety, but we have to admit that Sharia law is successful in deterring law breaking and our system is not.

Keith Dewison, Billingham