So Gordon Brown has arrived in Coldharbour - and brought torrential rain with him.  It sort of says it all, really.  From the number of phone calls I have had from local residents it seems the general view is one of surprise that the Labour candidate thinks this is going to help him win the election.  We'll see.  But one thing's for sure - if you need to call on one of the most unpopular Prime Ministers in living memory to come and endorse your campaign, it's pretty desperate.

Mr Brown was asking the officers about their work - they say evenings are the worst for anti-social behaviour and agree strongly that giving kids more to do would make a difference.  Which begs the question why Labour's MP and local authority has done so little to provide those activities.

On a recent street survey on the Middle Park estate I couldn't help but notice the disgraceful state of this phone box.  It's just one example, I've seen others in a similar state around the area.  Shouldn't the owners of these facilities have a responsibility to repair and maintain them?

"The moment a burglar steps over your threshold, and invades your property, with all the threat that gives to you, your family and your livelihood, I think they leave their human rights outside." - David Cameron

I think this is the view of most sane and sensible people, yet under the current government, it seems victims come a very poor second to criminals.  Sentencing seems to always take account of the social background of the vile people who burgle and rob hard working people, many of whom actually can't afford the high premiums insurers charge.  A slap on the wrist seems to be the preferable penalty for those who are caught - while those that do go to prison are released early under Labour's early release scheme.  These days, the human rights of the law breaker seem to take priority over those ehose privacy is violated.

If elected, the Conservatives will take a tougher approach to crime.  Yes, we will seek to rehabilitate criminals and we will help cure those whose addictions cause them to take this route in the first place.  But the balance has to be re-set.  It's time to remember what is right and what is wrong.  And in my view, that means being on the side of the victim.

Sky News is reporting that 'celebrity mum' Myleene Klass was warned she could have committed a crime after she scared off intruders at her home when she waved a knife at them.  She said she saw the intruders when they peered through her window when she was in her kitchen, with her daughter upstairs.  She grabbed a knife and banged on the window before they ran away.  Apparently, police told her it is illegal to carry an offensive weapon, even in her own home.  What utter tosh.

Firstly, I believe she did absolutely the right thing.  No doubt she acted spontaneously and her immediate concern was to protect herself and her child.  Secondly, in my view, if anyone chooses to intrude into private property they risk the occupant taking appropriate action to defend it and the people on site.  I very much doubt that, even if there had been a full scale break-in, she would have used the knife.  Thirdly, I would have had little sympathy with the intruders if she had.

We have got to start getting a grip on law and order.  People need to take responsibility for their actions.  That means that if they choose to break the law by breaking into a person's home, whether the intention is to steal to fund a drug habit or to attack an occupant, they should not be surprised if they end up being harmed.  In my view, the criminal is the person who invades private property, not the person enjoying the place they call home.  Let's put a stop to this stupid nonsense.

On the train from London Bridge to Eltham tonight, a man carrying a can of lager walked through our carriage and loudly announced he was after his newspaper (I presume he had previously been sitting there and had walked elsewhere on the train before I got on).  He then proceeded to talk, very loudly, about what was in the newspaper, his thoughts on the war in Afghanistan, drugs - you name it.  Frankly, I couldn't have cared less.  I don't like loud people on trains, but to my surprise the young lady next to me thought him rather amusing so who am I to judge?  Previously her MP3 player was so loud I could hear the lyrics but he was such an attraction, she turned it off to listen to him.  Even when she coughed and the man announced to the carriage that she might have swine flu, she still thought him amusing.  Fair enough, though I suspected that not everyone on the train appreciated his extensive use of four letter words.

So when I felt my mobile phone vibrating in my pocket, I answered the call as quietly as I could though I was barely able to hear myself speak.  I explained to the caller I was on a train - it was an urgent business matter and I conducted it as quickly and quietly as I could.  Except the man opposite took exception.  He shouted that I should go home, that nobody in the carriage cared about my business and I should leave it at the office.  I calmly told him I'd appreciate him being quiet out of consideration to everyone else.  With that he rose, hurled a torrent of abuse, called me all manner of names and finally for good measure invited me to get off the train so he could fight me and shut me up for good.  There were quite a few obscene terms, some that would probably pass for racism, but we'll leave that to one side.  Suddenly nobody was laughing.  I stayed seated, despite being showered by his spit, and simply repeated that I had asked him politely to be quiet.  He became even more aggressive and as just about everyone else remained frozen, another chap came forward and simply asked him to sit down and be quiet.  To my surprise that did it.  And as we passed through Blackheath towards Eltham, the remainder of the journey was silent - though tense.

I do not think anyone should have to be subjected to loud noise on trains, nor should they have to endure obscene language shouted by others, nor feel threatened by fellow passengers.  If such behaviour was experienced on a plane, the person would be restrained and arrested on arrival at the destination.  On trains and buses passengers are equally vulnerable, but have no means to reasonably raise the alarm or seek help.  To object to a person's rudeness or inappropriate behaviour is to risk threats of violence or worse, even on a packed train.  What a tragic state this country has come to.

Gordon Brown today identified some of the problems with the Broken Society.  He rightly said that too many children are having children; and that anti-social behaviour is making life difficult for many communities.  Big deal.  It's a bit like putting a plaster over a gaping hole on the bottom of a bucket of water.  What's he been doing since 1997?  Why has society broken down so badly?  Why are so many young people out of work, without hope, reliant on benefits?  How dare he say he'll put post offices at the heart of our communities when thousands have been closed by his own hand?  And what comfort was there for the millions struggling with redundancy, pay freezes, negative equity or financial ruin?  He didn't even address the central issue - that the country can't keep spending as it has under his stewardship.  Yet there he was, spending money he - and we - doesn't have.

If Gordon Brown had even taken 1% of the blame for the state this country is in - socially or economically - I'd have given him some credit.  But a lack of humility and the reliance on throwing insults at his opponents does not become a man in the highest elected office.  Then again, nobody elected him, did they?

The Shadow Home Secretary was in Eltham today and spelt out how things would be different if he takes control of the Home Office next year.  Criminals and yobs, you have been warned.  The end of the caution culture is nigh, there will be an end to the early release of prisoners, there will be a tougher approach to anti-social behaviour and the police will be able to take greater control of what cases actually reach the courts.

Chris Grayling heard from a number of residents today who had been victims of crime.  He also got to hear why people are so angry - and fearful of walking the streets.  As he said, it is almost never justified to be carrying a knife on the street - so why, when caught, are so many people getting away with it?  There should be an automatic presumption of a custodial sentence.

So many more people have emailed me or written to say they would have liked to attend today's meeting but could not take a day out of work.  I have passed their comments on and will ask Chris to return to Eltham at the earliest opportunity.  In the meantime, the next public meeting will be with Mark Francois MP at St Luke's Church Hall, Westmount Road on 29th October.  Doors open at 7pm.  Please join us.

When my team and I visit residents throughout the constituency, many comment that they do not feel as safe as government statistics suggest they should.  Burglaries are on the increase in several parts of the area and every week I meet more people who tell me of their experiences.  There is increasing anger that under the current administration, violent criminals are released from prison early - many to then reoffend.

In the latest of my public meetings to be addressed by senior shadow ministers, the Shadow Home Secretary will be in Eltham on Monday 28th September.  If you wish to attend, please come to St Mary's Community Centre for Midday.  There will be an opportunity to hear how a Conservative Home Secretary would do things differently; and a chance to put your points to one of the most senior politicians in the country