Police minister Tony McNulty told Sky News: "There's nothing the Government can do to stop knife crime," adding, "it's in the hands of the public".

Should the public say a quiet prayer in the secrecy of a place of worship? Mumble a few words in the quiet of the home, or on the allotment?

Fired up in a public bar, some might speak out occasionally on something other than 22 people kicking a ball around. But that's about it. Disproportionate ethnic knife and gun crime is too often the result of turf wars between drug gangs.

The Left, seeking recruits and votes, are inclined to use 'phoney' social statistics to excuse criminal behaviour among members of ethnic communities.

Police looking like 'Robocop' approach members of ethnic groups more as paramilitary social workers.

Leicester preferred a statue of Ghandi to one of Gary Lineker - Leicester and England soccer hero. Was this ingratitude, prejudice or what?

But those who question immigration numbers, or the multicultural agenda, find themselves condemned as racist.

The final justification (possibly the only one) for a state is that it protects its subjects from harm. Labour is unable to offer us that protection.

We exist in a dangerous world, where Government is totally unable to curtail activities of violent criminals, yet forbids most of us to defend ourselves.

STEPHEN WARD Tudor Close, Oxford