As you will all know, Parliament was recalled for a debate on the riots, which have swept our country.
I, for one, am relieved. Although it is a pleasure to be in the constituency for the summer, it is time for robust action.
The footage of raw, mindless violence has left me utterly cold.
And while recession, cuts and unemployment are blamed by many for the mayhem, early evidence from the courts reveals that the so-called underclass is not exclusively to blame.
Many of the arrested rioters are described as ‘respectable’.
Whatever the causes, this outbreak of lawlessness cannot be allowed to continue.
I, along with many other parliamentarians, will be calling for more help for the police.
For too long they have been neutered by a series of well-meaning rules and reviews, which have left them unable to do their job effectively.
Cuts in manpower will only exacerbate the problem.
I regret the closure of community police stations and houses.
They both reassured the law abiding majority and deterred the law breaking minority.
What the public wants - and should have, in my view - is more officers patrolling on foot.
But, as budgets are cut, squad cars are the most effective way of maintaining any police presence, especially in rural areas like ours.
Further afield, the disturbances have now seen three men killed.
The sheer brutality of this incident defies belief.
Interviews with the rioters make me realise they believe in precious little, except more violence and immediate reward.
And, while it is important to understand the reasons why, they do not excuse criminal behaviour.
Whatever the police need to do their jobs properly, they should have.
To me, that means more equipment, funding, training and less political correctness.
We are fortunate to live in this beautiful haven, but we also share our small island with a growing number of thugs.
We must reclaim our streets, for all our sakes.