Conservative MP David Davies had a like-minded audience at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting when he admitted he was very hot' on law and order.

As an unpaid Special Constable on the mean streets of London when he's not in the House of Commons, he goes face-to-face with dangerous thugs. On one four-hour shift, he came across a mugging victim, someone taking an overdose of drugs and another choking on his own vomit.

For this kind of part-time work, Mr Davies, the Monmouth MP, gets a free bus and Tube pass, although he had to pay £50 for a pair of protective gloves.

"Not one MP has been a police officer," he told Ysbyty Fields Neighbourhood Watch. "I got burgled a few years ago and I decided I wanted to put something back into the community.

"I go out on shifts, which is much more exciting than watching television, after Parliamentary sittings. My Special Constable experience has me got thinking about how Parliament looks at law and order issues. The government wants to get out a bit more to see the real world."

Mr Davies said greater use by the police of the quick search or tap down' could stop a lot of crime. But criminals know they won't be searched unless they are arrested.

He also complained about too much paper work' for police officers, which could take them off the streets for several hours.

"A police force should be out there dealing with crime instead of being in the station doing paper work," he said. He also called for more police officers to be on duty at nights.

Some offenders, such as the typical skinny' 18-year-old who takes drugs, has no educational skills or social skills, gets 12 months custody but could be out in three months under the early release system, which should be ended.

This type of offender, said Mr Davies, should not be released until he had received work training.