Time to protect law-abiders, not lawbreakers . . .

THERE is a common factor in the hounding of soldiers defending our country, such as Major Robert Campbell — facing an eighth official investigation regarding the death of an Iraqi teen in 2003 — and the treatment of Richard OsbornBrooks, defending himself and his wife in their home from burglars.

The authorities have lost their moral compass. Prosecutors and police should be on the side of servicemen and law- abiding citizens. Instead, they take the side of the enemy or lawbreakers.

Re-investigating soldiers time and time again is not just oppressive and unjust, but also undermines the effectiveness of our Armed Forces on which our liberty and way of life depend.

Being the victim of a violent burglary is traumatic. Do we really expect a man to do nothing in such a situation?

In this politically correct view of the world, there is no difference between the householder and the intruder; the British soldier is seen as an oppressor, while a suspected looter is seen as a victim.

OTTO INGLIS, Edinburgh. HAVE you ever been burgled? have you experienced the sheer terror of this experience?

Like the Osborn-Brooks, my neighbours are in their 80s and the wife has dementia. Family and friends try to help, but she panics if her husband isn’t there. Put these factors together and explain why a pensioner was arrested.

SUSAN DAVEY, Coventry. The original definition of murder referred to ‘malice aforethought’ — intent needs to be proven.

If intruders invade your home, then lashing out at them can’t show malice aforethought. DAVID PATRICK MOORE,

Thornton Heath, Surrey. WHEN confronted with an armed burglar in your home, are you expected to say in a firm voice ‘Please leave’ if you don’t want to risk breaking the law?

JOHN LONGFORD, Cambridge. WHAT little faith the public have left in the police and justice system is in danger of evaporating. how many times have old people been beaten black and blue in their homes by raiders?

JOHN ROOKES, Rotherham, S. Yorks. AN ELDERLY man was arrested for attempting to protect his wife and home. There have been more than 50 murders on the streets of London this year, but how many people have been arrested for them?

A. McGRATH, Wallingford, oxon.

Social care burden

SIR Andrew Dilnot, a member of a committee advising the health Secretary Jeremy hunt, wants older workers to pay National Insurance contributions to help fund social care costs.

This is unfair, as a lot of older workers like me are only on the minimum wage and are paying income tax at the basic rate of 20 per cent. Will we be supporting the pensioners who are not still working and so won’t be paying anything extra into the system?

Sir Andrew talks about ‘intergenerational injustice’, but the young today have more perks than we ever did. They claim working tax credits and some have child care costs paid by the Government.

Maybe if we had a decent state pension, people would not have to work beyond retirement. It seems the elderly get the blame for every shortfall these days.

C. KNIGHT, Leeds.

Sour note for choir

I AM astonished chief constable Peter Goodman has withdrawn support from the Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir because, by its very nature, it does not promote equality (Mail).

For many years, I was conductor of the eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir, set up nearly 100 years ago. Its members were men from all walks of life, but we never thought to drop the word ‘collieries’ as this was a reminder of the proud tradition of the choir.

The dedication of the Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir over the years has done nothing but good to the local police — unlike the reaction that the chief constable’s comments and actions have engendered. PETER BROUGH, Eastwood, Notts. WILL the first song performed in the renamed Derbyshire Community Male Voice Choir’s next concert be A Policeman’s Lot Is Not A happy One? STEPHEN TONG, Pudsey, W. Yorks. SHOULD we not be allowed to have string quartets without brass and woodwind players? equality and diversity have gone mad.

JOHN HILLIER, Portsmouth. SORRY, ladies of the Women’s Institute, if male voice choirs have to go, then you’ve had it!

MIKE HORDYNSKI, olney, Bucks.

Light blight

I AGREE that light pollution is a modern blight (Good health). A year ago, LeD lighting was installed in my street and since then I’ve had dreadful headaches. Black- out curtains have not helped, forcing me to sleep in a room at the back of the house.

Researching this problem, I discovered some people are hypersensitive to the electronic frequency of these lights.

I complained and the council sent workmen to look at the street lights, but they dismissed my concerns and said there was nothing that could be done. JUNE CAIN, Ruthin, Denbighshire.

Bring back blighters!

I AM impressed that Jacob Reesmogg doesn’t swear and is trying to bring the old-fashioned word ‘blighter’ back into fashion (Mail).

My father was a farmer who had been a Royal Marine and he would never use a swear word. The worst he would say was ‘blighter’ if he was milking the cows and one of them put a hoof in the bucket or swished her tail in his face.

If I used a mild expletive such as bloody in front of him, he’d tell me: ‘You never heard me use such words, my girl. Swearing shows a lack of vocabulary.’

Miss S. G. Beaton, Wincanton, Somerset.