SIR - As someone who has always supported anti-racist policies both locally and nationally, I feel that the recent Crown Prosecution Service measures have reached a level of absurdity beyond belief.

The CPS intends to treat race crime and "religious crime" robustly in future (T&A, July 15) and "any crime suspected of being racially aggravated will be strongly pursued."

Nigel Cowgill even gives an example of a man not paying his fare to a driver; if the driver happens to be Asian the crime will be treated as racially-aggravated.

In a multi-cultural region and indeed a bi-cultural city like Bradford, the chance of the victim and the perpetrator of a crime belonging to different ethnic, religious, national or racial groups must be extremely high, and so a great many crimes could fall into this category.

But because all 120 groups consulted during the formation of the policy represented black and minority ethnic groups, it seems that crimes committed only against persons represented by these groups will be considered racially-aggravated and that crimes committed against "ethnic whites" will not.

If we examine Mr Cowgill's ill-chosen example of a racially-aggravated crime and apply some variables, we see that the policy is doomed to result in further social division and will serve to exacerbate racial and religious tension.

What if the man not paying his fare is Asian and the driver white; the fare dodger Catholic and the driver Protestant; or the driver a Bangladeshi Muslim and the fare dodger Pakistani Muslim? These permutations seem endless!

Perhaps the indoctrination (sorry, training) of the CPS staff has not extended this far.

Malcolm Laws, Cemetery Road, Bradford.

SIR - In response to Mrs M Cook's letter (T&A, July 19), I would point out that I object to the vicious and inhumane killing of foxes on a hunt because the level of suffering endured by the fox is unjustified - NOT, as Mrs Cook suggests, because the hunt is frequented by upper-class people (an offensive term in itself).

Of course, Mrs Cook, I understand that a fox needs to eat meat and in order to do so will kill. It is not the only animal to live in such a way.

Are we to cull the domestic cat in such a way because it tortures mice and birds before it kills them only to leave them uneaten?

I would also like to dispute the phrase "farmers' suffering"? Get real! They are not being torn to bits by a pack of dogs.

A fox may be a vicious carnivore but it certainly does not warrant the horrible death being meted out at present by the hunt.

Sarah Hardwick, Pleasant Place, Allerton.

SIR - All this talk about connecting Bradford's railway stations really concerns me as it could jeopardise the important Broadway Centre. This is how I fear matters could unfold:

1. Yorkshire Forward withdraw funding, plans are amended, new partnership is formed, scheme is delayed.

2. Plans have to be redrawn again to make way for rail link. Broadway scheme is abandoned due to severe delays and replans.

The rail link can only go-ahead if developers Caddick Construction agree and can tolerate further replans and delays. Can't they be linked another way?

If the Broadway scheme is abandoned, what about Bradford's future?

This is the centrepiece of the city's regeneration. How can it be successful without it and compete against Leeds, White Rose, Meadowhall and Trafford Centre?

Bradford needs these improved shopping facilities more than anything.

Is a rail link really worth it if it means the end for Broadway?

Jack MacPherson, Killinghall Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - Mrs S Wilkinson (Letters, July 16) states that "the Church is never out of step in any century."

So, the Church that was responsible for the imprisonment, torture and death of thousands of innocents in the "Inquisition" of the 15th century was not out of step?

The Church that burned at the stake 300 so-called "heretics" in the 16th century (in England) and roasted alive an old woman whose only crime was reading the Bible, was not out of step?

Grow up Mrs Wilkinson, and by the way, there's never 'nuff" said.

Paul Collins, Brookfield Road, Bradford 3.