SIR - Why is it that the people taking obscene salaries out of the public purse; the ones supposed to be in the know; the ones in charge, are the ones with the least knowledge of what is going on?

On immigration: The word was taboo for nearly 50 years. Anyone broaching the subject was branded racist or fascist, along with other disgusting terms. Almost 50 years on, it has now been discovered immigration is out of hand - a fact all common people have known for nigh on 50 years.

On crime: For about 25 years now we have all known crime was taking over. Law-abiding people were in the minority and crime was king. Now, approximately 25 years on, the fat cats' in the know tell us crime is out of hand.

On prisons: For decades, the population has been asking for the system to tighten-up', that prison is supposed to be a punishment for wrong-doers.

Televisions in the culprits' cells, snooker and pool tables for the felons, free access to phones so they can call the Samaritans when they are stressed out'.

Now the press is telling us prisons are virtually luxury apartments. No-one tries to escape any more. It's a wicked world out there, much more comfortable inside. Come on, let's get back to the chain gangs, the hard labour, etc.

Why don't these people who are paid to know, know?

J Lewis Nicholl, Plumpton Gardens, Wrose