Home Office Minister Charles Clarke says he doesn't think there should be longer sentences for motorists who cause death by dangerous driving.

He believes an increase in the maximum penalty of ten years would be an empty gesture.

How can he say this on the day when another policeman has been mown down by a hit-and-run driver?

Doesn't Mr Clarke realise the outrage there was last year when PC Jeff Tooley was killed at a speed checkpoint in Brighton Road, Shoreham?

Apparently not, because the minister has invited PC Tooley's family to write to him giving their views on the Government's new plans to deal with driving offences.

Perhaps he has forgotten a meeting with PC Tooley's mother in February at which he said the law should be changed to give judges greater powers to punish motorists guilty of this offence.

There are some welcome measures in the Government's proposals but they are undermined by the refusal to increase the maximum sentence.

The Argus is backing the Justice for Jeff campaign and yesterday presented its own award in memory of him.

But an even better memorial would be changing the law to allow unlimited periods of prison so that judges could impose severe sentences in the worst cases.