AN aspiring councillor has called for tougher action against criminals - with punishments ranging from full frontal lobotomies for burglars to public floggings for fraudsters.

In an open letter, Ken Robson rejected the restorative justice approach favoured by Durham’s Police and Crime Commission Ron Hogg before outlining views he suggested were “perhaps more in tune with public opinion.”

These include capital punishment for murder, full frontal lobotomies for burglars who steal sentimental items from the elderly, life imprisonment for rape and public floggings “possibly at football stadiums as half time entertainment” for fraudsters who prey on the vulnerable.

Mr Robson, who runs Acorn Residents’ Association in Newton Aycliffe, said his proposals - listed in a letter to the Newton News community newspaper - were ‘tongue in cheek’ and designed to provoke debate.

It follows confirmation by Mr Hogg that Durham Police has ended the proactive detection of small-scale cannabis production.

The force will also give those caught in possession of the class B drug an opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution by engaging with Checkpoint, a programme tackling the cause of criminal behaviour.

Mr Robson, who intends to stand as a councillor in the west ward of Newton Aycliffe when a vacancy arises, said: “The letter has got people talking and that’s what I wanted.

“Last week, Ron Hogg said police would turn a blind eye to cannabis and my organisation Acorn Residents Association is strongly against that.

“I see at base level the trouble drugs can cause in a community. I have seen the devastating impact a burglary can have on an elderly person. The criminal justice system is far too lax and I think it’s down to financial implications.

"The article is what it is, people can read into it whatever they wish. None of those things is likely to happen, Parliament is never going to bring back hanging or public floggings."

However, the strong views expressed in the letter have upset some.

County councillor John Clare said: "His opinions are alarmingly extreme for someone who intends to stand as a councillor. What I found particularly horrific was his idea of public floggings 'as entertainment."

Mr Hogg said: “I would like to praise Ken for the great work he does in the community but I do not agree with him on this matter.

“Britain has the highest prison population in Europe apart from Turkey. Imprisoning people is not always the best solution. In fact the reoffending rate for people coming out of prison who have served less than 12 months is 60 per cent.

“However, we have found a restorative approach of working with people and engaging with them can be life changing. “Our work with women offenders committing low levels found 60 per cent of those engaged didn’t reoffend.”