I’m not condoning violence in any form but I do remember times when a fight down a pub or row in a street would be just that.

Sadly, street violence and fights in venues, especially where alcohol is sold is nothing new.

But the stakes have been grossly upped.

Criminals with no thought for human life use knives as weapons and now also turn to acid in a bid to avoid hefty prison sentences.

The horrendous spate of acid attacks we are seeing cause immense physical pain and leave a permanent disfigurement on victims who are faced with years of surgery to reconstuct their face, skin grafts and mental turmoil.

Like those who use a knife, it is clear people who squirt their victims with acid have no control of the outcome and that outcome could easily be death.

For decades anti-knife crime campaigners have called for tougher action with a series of high-profile campaigns resulting in harsher penalties - some say not harsh enough - for those who carry or use a knife.

In the past successive governments have been criticised for acting too slowly when it comes to enforcement and punishment. And while knee-jerk policies and law changes are to be avoided the evidence is clear as day. The law is weak and the industry around the sale of acid must be tightened.

I fully support Stephen Timms MP in his bid to reclassify sulphuric acid as a “regulated substance” where a licence for purchase is needed, make the possession of acid a criminal offence (in line with knives) and introduce tougher - perhaps life - and more consistent sentences for those found guilty of carrying out acid attacks.