PAUL Bailey (Your Letters, Jan 5) is over-reacting to Mr Hague's remarks complaining about the lack of visible, approachable police officers walking about in districts where they know the people and with whom they are conversant.

Mr Hague was unwise to link his observations with one specific case. He ought to have realised that this would be picked on by his political opponents, certain lawyers and paranoid, race-sensitive people ever ready to mis-interpret his comments.

There is nothing this country needs to apologise for regarding its treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants. It is leaning over backwards, even to the point of being disloyal to its own citizens.

Asylum seekers are better rewarded than our own pensioners and immigrants are catered for with forms, signs and daily assistance given in their own language.

Entry into Britain is easier than in many other countries and where else would they modify their religious teaching and celebrations "so as not to offend" those of other cultures who have voluntarily gone to live in a particular country?

The fact that so many immigrants and asylum seekers succeed here, and continue to attempt to settle here, proves that they can have no real complaint about Britain's hospitality.

A BON DROIT,

Whitefield.