SIR - In comparing the crime rates of Bradford and New York, I think Diane Duguid is pitting the better areas of New York against the poorer ones of Bradford.

In any case most of America and New York's thugs, bullies and muggers are in politics, big business or the military. New York's relative peace, and we'll have to take her word for it, is Baghdad's shock and awe'. They had little crime before the Yanks went over there.

Ours was a lot lower too before Maggie Americanised us. We used to be slim as well.

If we ban US TV, films and adverts, we'll be much better for it.

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden