Messrs Quarrie, Stockton, and Smith (Letters, December 23) unintentionally expose just how foul were William Hague's pronouncements on crime and race.

Stopping and searching people of any race has no discernible impact on crime. Recent Home Office figures show that as few as two per cent of people stopped and searched are subsequently arrested. Not all of these come to court. Fewer still end in a conviction.

Hague's claim that black people commit more crime than white people is pure fiction.

He has attempted to launch the Tories' election campaign by playing the race card. His attack on the Stephen Lawrence inquiry is reminiscent of Enoch Powell at his worst.

The Tories seem to believe that they can harden up their core support through scapegoating. It is only a few months since Hague and Ann Widdecombe launched a hate campaign against asylum seekers. The weeks that followed saw a dramatic rise in racist attacks.

Neville Lawrence and Damilola Taylor's mother have both condemned Hague's attempts to make political capital from their children's murders.

Hague's remarks must be challenged vigorously and prevented from stoking up racism and bigotry in the run-up to the election.

Frank Ormston,

Waverley Street,

York.