I DON'T know John Phelps, who frequently 'tells me off' about my stance on the hunting ban with dogs, Give hunting law time to work, June 3.

But I guess neither of us will change our opinions on the ability of the Act to do its job.

I firmly believe that our overstretched 'thin blue line' has far more serious crimes to deal with than harassing those men in red coats who chase foxes and stags until they either get away or end up dead following a lengthy gallop over the rolling countryside.

It is not nice that any animals should be chased until they drop. Of course not But an unworkable Act won't put a stop to it continuing.

But for Mr Phelps to refer to the death of three prostitutes and the ghastly killings by a taxi driver now being investigated by the police baffles me somewhat.

The untimely death of a fox or stag is of little consequence when the boys and girls in blue have to spend every hour of their shifts looking for the 'nutters' who murder prostitutes or a gun-crazy man, who who goes on the rampage with weapons, destroying 12 lives.

The hunting Act could be properly policed by the League Against Cruel Sports or the RSPCA.

Leave the policing of real crimes to the police force, which it seems has more than enough to do to keep us safe in our beds.

Chief Constable, Stephen Otter is already facing financial cutbacks which will affect the numbers of officers he will be able to deploy on our streets.

So Mr Phelps, although I acknowledge your point of view on the Hunting Act, I am afraid it does not keep me awake at nights, whereas the death of prostitutes or the killing of a number of innocent people makes me somewhat restless between the sheets!

Use me as a whipping boy if you like Mr Phelps — I am used to that.

Colin Richey

Lazenby Road, Tiverton