While I agree to some degree with John Scriven's assertion that clause 119 of the Organised Crime and Police Bill could ultimately result in self-censorship (see [2004] Gazette, 17 December, 6), it needs to be made clear that there is a significant difference between stirring up racial hatred and simply offending somebody through lax consideration of others' feelings.


One would expect those applying the law to wean out those cases where the offender has exceeded the actions of a reasonable person.



The line must be drawn so that the ignorant in the true sense of the word is separated from the bigoted.



My biggest concern over the continuing trend in clamping down on an 'anti-togetherness' is that it may subvert racist feelings and drive them further underground.



James Hulme, Potters Bar, Herts