I agree bring back the death penalty. Especially where DNA evidence is not in doubt. It means that the rest of us don't have to put up with the idea that some people have that killing is Ok, because its just a few years 'holiday' where you get 3 square meals in a stress free government holiday camp. Kill another person, get taken out of society to protect the rest of us. That idea works for me. Let them put back to the community by donating their organs post execution, that might balance their actions.

My deepest sympathies go to the officers family.

Ian, London,

As a serving police officer, it is so sad that yet another colleague has been killed in such a pointless, and preventable, way. Killed by an 'illegal immigrant' armed with a knife. The time has come now to give all of us the chance to defend ourselves against the ever increasing threat of violence. All officers need to be given Taser NOW. It is safer than CS which can incapacitate the officer using the spray and does not have an effect on one person in ten statistcally. Batons also require officers to effectively be in hand-to-hand combat with somebody in order to be effective. Taser is the one option that can prevent such incidents and save the lives of police officers and others, causing no to minimal harm to the suspect. The only issue i can think of as to why officers are not currently ruitinely armed with Taser is, unfortunately, cost.

Chris, Bedford, Bedfordshire

A woman got shot yesterday for possesion of firearm (real or otherwise). Same now should apply to possesion of knives as well. Drop it, surrender or get shot. This may save innocent lives.

Vincent Smith, Streatham, England

I fully agree that with todays technology the death penalty should be brought back. and the penalty should fit the crime.

The fact remains that all this pussyfooting around offenders no matter how young or old they are, they all know they can get away with it and continue break the law.

This not only makes the police's job harder but also makes law abiding citizens wonder whether its all worth it especially when your penalised for something some low life has created.

Doris, PORTSMOUTH, Hants

you will always get the odd person who even if we had a death penalty will kill!however it deters a lot of others!when corporal punishment was rife in schools you always had some hard case repeatedly punished but many others feared punishment and behaved!not now as they know nothing much will happen to them!.

DR thompson, Weymouth, England

The death penalty should be reinstated for murders where there is NO DOUBT of a persons guilt.

Margaret Patricia Nicholls, Bristol, England

I agree with the death penalty here. The murderer hasn't any life worth living, nor any worth protecting, or arguing for. The call for a death penalty is not a knee-jerk reaction, but a choice which has been clearly thought through. It is the lesser of two evils and a pragmatic, sane way forward which demonstrates care for the victims of such crimes. This murderer would be a danger to prison staff as well as to other prisoners, who might be convicted of much lesser crimes. No-one should be asked to tolerate his presence.
Incidentally, Tony Blair has sanctioned death in a much more random fashion.

Ian Francis, Christchurch , New Zealand

How tragic and maybe the folks that criticise the Police will understand how they risk their lives for us everyday of the week.

My heart goes out to his family.

Izzy, Irby,Wirral, England

Just a query...any information on the man that stabbed the officer?,

Simon, Las Palmas de GC, Spain

How many more deaths must we see before our police force is armed to deal with the increase in violent crime in this country?

H, Peterborough,

If this is what living in the UK has come too, I would rather live abroad for the rest of my life.

Rachael, Rhiendahlen, Germany

In this day and age of DNA profiling, isn't it about time the death penalty was brought back for Police and child murderers?...I used to be against the death penalty but now with with these scientific advances, maybe it's time for a return.

kirk, Rotherham, UK

When are they going to bring back the death penalty for clear cut cases like this and none of this 20 years on death row. Give them an injection.

We have so many CCTVs to provide evidence and phorensic science has improved dramatically over the past few years that some cases are not just beyond reasonable doubt but are certain.

I know this is a controversial issue and the death penalty doesn't get to the root of the problem but people understand and respond to discipline. Our current prison system is not working. The youth of today believe that they can get away with murder and at the expense of a few years in a comfortable jail, they are about right.

Stan Lersch, St Albans, England

When can we see the death penalty reinstated for this and other pointless murders?

Paul Griffe, Cambridge, Cambs

Another brutal tragedy. Let's be grateful that the other two men did survive.

Mikael, Eskilstuna, Sweden

My brother, my baby brother was the third stab, he was being attacked by the knife man after deciding to follow him in order to help the police get him for the first attack, poor pc henry arrived and my brother tried so very hard to help him, however he was stabbed in his attemp. All said and done my brother not feel like a hero and is in bits he failed to help, then itn news has and have shown mobile footage or the whole thing!!!!! This is evidence, diss-respectful to his family and just plain sick. please complain as we have done, its really wrong, if ur family what would u do? thank u 4 ur support on this x

lyndsey, luton, beds

I'm afraid it's time for police to be armed with guns them selves, with a gun you can get an knife armed criminal to surrender.

Jay, Dorset,

When are they going to bring back the death penalty for clear cut cases like this, and no death row for 20 years. I'm not saying strap them into the chair, but if we can put pets down in a humane way, then we must have something for murderers.

I know that this is a controversial issue and the death penalty does not get to the root of the problem, but human beings understand and respond to discipline.

We have so many CCTVs to provide evidence and phorensic science has improved dramatically over the past few years that some cases are not just beyond reasonable doubt, they are certain.

Our current prison system is just not working. It appears that the youth of today believe that they can get away with murder, and at the expense of a few years in a comfortable jail, they are about right.

Stan Lersch, St Albans, England

nearly Every day someone gets stabbed and we just seem to be getting used to it . It is a cowards way of fighting and cowards can be detered by some proper retribution maybe a little sharia law would make them think twice

vic, belper, england

I am 96 years of age,and have seem many changes. from the day when people could be told off by a policeman. The first Mobile Police,I remember were a Sergeant in a Motorbike Sidecar. Approx date 1930.
As things are today,I would support the carrying of firearms,and any other m eans of defence by trained officers. We are many years behind in this respect,by police in the U.S>A.

Mr D.G.D. WATKINS, Lytham-St-Annes, United Kingdom

It is time that the Government faces its responsibility to protect brave officers such as Jonathon and others who have lost their lives trying to protect the public they serve.
I agree with William Rowlinsons sentiments, it is time we realised we are in the 21st century. I expect that the Home Office politicians who make the decisions do so from the safety of their offices, doubtless with an armed police officer close at hand.
Enough is enough.

Andy, Plymouth, UK

Too many murders either by guns or stabbing, Bring back the death penalty for murder

John Smith, Portsmouth, UK

I am extremely saddened by the death of PC John Henry today in Luton town centre. It is indeed tragic that in one day we see a dedicated police officer killed while performing his sworn duty to protect his local community and then see an IPCC Commissioner on Sky News when commenting about a fatal shooting in Kent quoting "police.....fault...sanctions..if appropriate". I can't help thinking that the Independent Police Complaints Commission have used this ill chosen opportunity as a platform to stamp their authority on men and women who face potential injury and death every day protecting their fellow citizens. My heartfelt thoughts are with John's family on this sorrowful day.

Mike Innes, Dartford, UK

When will we bring back the death penalty for such pointless killings?

Paul Griffe, Cambridge, Cambs

I read today with great sadness that yet another brave unarmed Police Officer has been murdered on duty, tackling a violent armed man. How many more of our best and brightest people have to die serving their communities before HMG, ACPO & the Police Federation are prepared to admit that it is time for British Police to be routinely armed with firearms? Policing is a very dangerous profession and that British Police Officers need to be equipped, as Police Officers are in the rest of the World, with firearms. They need to be routinely armed and not just with an ASP or CS Spray. We need Taser for all front line Officers, now! Then start training every Officer, currently serving, that wants to carry a firearm, to do so. Those that don't want to carry a firearm continue as they are, but should be given the choice. ACPO then need to set a date for every new Police recruit to start Firearms training, as was done with ASP and CS Spray. Yes, it'll be expensive. Yes, it is a change to our 'traditional' image. But better that than more Police Service Funerals, grieving widows/widowers and children asking 'why won't daddy/mummy be coming home?’ It's time for HMG, ACPO and the Country to wake up; this is the 21st Century not the 19th. the world has changed! We wouldn’t dream of sending our troops against an armed enemy, equipped only with a baton and a pointy hat! The media and Senior Police Officers like to refer to Police image and of Dixon of Dock Green but tend to conveniently forget that the fictional PC Dixon was fatally shot approaching an armed man, who had just carried out an armed robbery.

William Rowlinson, London, UK