23 AUGUST 1963, Page 13

THE CASE OF MANDY RICE-DAVIES

SIR.—It is difficult to believe Mr. Foot is unaware that the law is gently bent by the police from time to time and that this has been done in all countries since police were invented, possibly less in Britain than elsewhere—until now. Furthermore, if this was not done, Mr. Foot would now be living in physical as well as mental chaos.

The sun-life of an informer-prostitute is halted briefly and she is brought back willingly from a holiday resort. She is interrogated by the police. She is available when an important case comes up. I cannot see any extraordinary evil in this—things being as they are.

I haven't seen any Liberal indignation expressed over what, to one person at least, was the most evil, immoral and ominous incident to come out of the Ward case.

A well-groomed, apparently reasonably educated, 'average' young lady, acting as a barmaid, goes home with a gentleman from a pub in the guise of a friend, deliberately prepared to take down his phone con- versations, note what was going on and report to the police (voluntarily!). Her parents are reported to have said: 'Now that we know what she was doing, we are proud of her.' This passed without any com- ment by the press.

We are breeding a society which is more than willing to accept the Police State. In the absence of an instilled, common-religious code, this is what we are going to get. Mr. Foot should be reminded that 'Liberalism' played a large part in destroying religion.

There are only two ways: morals by religion or morals by legislation. To have neither is anarchy; so we are in the process of being brainwashed to accept the latter—the Police State.

It is pointless and unjust to cavil against the police for this. They are simply accommodating a society which is extending their activities.