30 MARCH 1996, Page 25

No law for crime

Sir: I feel bound to correct the misappre- hension of your correspondent Gordon Smith (Letters, 23 March) in respect of the Crime Writers' Association. The CWA has never issued a 'directive' to any or all of its members concerning the subject matter of their work, nor would we wish to. Our membership includes representatives from all sections of the broad church that is con- temporary crime writing, and while this reg- ularly fosters vigorous debate, the associa- tion has neither the powers nor the desire to lay down the law.

Val McDermid

Committee Member, 6 Ainscow Avenue, Lostock, Bolton Lancashire