Peter Rhodes’ point about bygone juries acquitting bread thieves when the alternative was hanging, is a sad reminder of our past failures with law and order.

I think people will come to regard with the same dismay, the failures of the last 11 years under this present government.

There seems to be an abundance of nit-picking rules and regulations when the more serious problems go untackled. Undue attention is paid to dropping sweet wrappers, not closing the bin, putting things in the ‘wrong’ bin, and woe betide anybody without a TV licence. On the other hand, muggings abound with no real deterrent, ASBOs are ignored with apparent immunity, and the fine for not insuring a car is less than the premium to insure it in the first place.

We have Gurhkas, a people of remarkable allegiance and loyalty to the Crown, refused entry for lack of ties to the UK, yet by the same standard we allow in all and sundry from Europe, again with no ties. They have never contributed one bean to this country and are able to enjoy a better standard of living than those who have paid in over a lifetime. No doubt the Government expects their vote. 

We experience first hand the ‘European Arrest Warrant’ where a British citizen – Australian at Heathrow – is arrested on British soil, for what is not an offence is this country. Then again, after the treatment which was meted out to war hero Walter Wolfgang two years ago, this should come as no surprise. The mother of democracy is a laughing stock. I think in years to come, people will regard this same government with contempt, just as now we look back to 1880s when they hanged hungry people for stealing bread.

Mr R W White, Tompstone Road, Wigmore, West Bromwich.