Nearly everyone wants to see good race relations in Britain.

As a people, we are noted for our tolerance - it's one of the reasons so many want to come here.

The CRE's attempt to prevent discussion of the race issue in the run-up to the general election seems to have almost fascist overtones.

There are several questions that should be debated, including the make-up of the CRE itself.

Others are: Freedom of speech under the law; the effect of large-scale immigration on our culture, especially inner cities; the fact that we are one of the world's most densely populated countries; and for how much longer we can prevent the EU from controlling our immigration policy?

The Macpherson report on racism in the police branded the force as "institutionally racist", thus smearing every police officer in the country.

Instead of protesting their innocence, apart from a few bad apples, this seems to have been accepted at face value.

Thus the hierarchy, in what seems to be the most politically-correct way, is reacting by asking officers to record nearly every word they utter in public. The result will be a further erosion in recruitment and an undoubted reluctance by the public to speak out.

We are supposed to be a democratic country. Let's act like one.

-Alan Nunn, Piper's Close, Hove