I AGREE with Captain Nicholson that Tony Martin has been wronged, but it is unlikely that any government would allow ordinary people to use guns for home defence, as they do in some US states where there is less crime in consequence.

The enormous increase in our general crime level began after the Second World War and was checked about 10 years ago when the government decided to fill the prisons. Since then, the general level has been more stable, though very high, but as fast as one type of crime is checked another type increases.

The cause lies in the permissive society, supported by the permissive state which set out to undermine the institution of the family by giving freedom to misbehave. Marital inadequacy is the prime source of crime.

Governments battle away, but the more laws they pass the more there are to be broken. The trouble is religious, not secular. The solution lies in the revival of religious education with the churches working together; but the present government regards religion as a private matter.

The churches need to break out of their passivity. They should not attack political parties, nor politicians, directly.

Their target should be the source of bad ideas, the social affairs intelligentsia, the "no stigma" brigade, social liberals, call them what you will. They should be metaphorically burnt at the stake.

CHARLES COPLAND-GRIFFITHS,

Wingfield,

Trowbridge.