DAILY News readers were asked on Facebook what they thought should be done to tackle the growing drug crime on the Southern Downs, with most in favour of taking a tougher stance on offenders and strengthening laws.

Donna Page said she believed in tougher sentencing for offenders.

"Stop slapping them on the wrist," she wrote.

"Take away their benefits and freedom."

A slap on the wrist was a key term from many readers, including Shezz McDonnell.

"Stop giving these scum a slap on the hand and tell them not to do it again," she wrote.

"Start locking them up."

Donna Turnley also agreed that tougher sentencing was the key, along with reducing the comfort in the prison system.

"There is no deterrent to comply with the laws in Australia, and if you do happen to get caught, the prison comforts are probably better than the offender had at home," she wrote.

"We have many community spirited law abiding citizens that don't live that well."

Jacquelynne Rogers had a number of suggestions for how drug crime could be tackled.

"Better drug education, tougher penalties, loss of benefits and more police tasked to helping combat the drug trade," she wrote.

Some readers also pointed to policing as one of the issues.

"Proactive, not reactive policing is a start," Shane Hattersley wrote.

"I know about policing and how it can be done."

Peter Solomon said police were merely there to solve crimes, not prevent them.

"By the very nature of the service policing is 90% reactionary and always will be," he wrote.

"Police are there to solve crime, not prevent it - that should be up to the citizens but in Australia we are currently denied those rights."

What else readers had to say

• Russell Brunker: Death Penalty for producers... they'll only do it once!!!

• Peter Solomon: How about giving people the actual right to defend themselves, their families and property. "Castle Doctrine" and "Stand your ground" laws would be a major deterrent. These scumbags might think twice about entering your property if there was the possibility of staring down the barrel of a 12 bore.

• Darryl Evans: Peter, first mistake is thinking I will not stand my ground and defend. Second mistake, testing my resolve

• Peter Solomon: But Darryl as the law stands now citizens are not allowed to use force in self defence unless you believe there is a real possibility of your death. Criminals have more rights than home owners. Australia is one of the few nations in the world where a person is actually denied the right of self defence by federal law. We have laws to prosecute for "excessive self defence" It is ridiculous. People should have carte blanch to use what ever force required (including deadly) in defence of themselves, their family and their homes and property.

• Natalie J Bartholomew: Lock them up...name and shame

• Bobby Pugh-Nelson: Grab all meth dealers and give them 25 years!!!!

• Eddy Hindmarsh: I'd stand my ground and protect around me..... Law is a failure

• Leebee NCraig Price: Harsher penalties