Dear Sir,

Somewhere along the way, things got mixed up. Accused people seem to have more rights than the victim — but equal rights for both are needed.

Any witnesses are now also victims, as their life will be changed because of what they saw. They may spend hours at a police station and hours at our courts on their own dime, and most likely it will be stressful.

So it is said to be better to see nothing and shut your mouth; until this changes, you will see that not many people out there will come forward as witnesses.

This fuels the crime, as the fear in the community from all walks of life keeps victims quiet. I feel that the police, armed with this information, need to seriously address this fact, as until the victims feel the police have got their back, crime will increase.

MEREDITH STAPFF, election candidate, Pembroke West