FEW will disagree that the increasing raids on churches by thugs brings into sharp relief the extent of moral decay in our society.

Not even places of worship are being spared from the nefarious activities of criminals, as happened in the Roman Catholic Church's Verulam parish in Durban last weekend.

Six gunmen pounced on Father Angelicus Mchunu and his congregation, robbing them of two cars and other valuables.

So many of these incidents have become common occurrence, fomenting a climate of fear across the country and creating perceptions of a society constantly under siege from criminals.

We concur with police chief Bheki Cele that it is time that fear is removed from our crime-weary society and placed firmly among the crime syndicates.

It's time we reclaim our space from them with the will of God.