WHILE I agree with Mr Collingwood that our troops should be brought home from the Middle East (Letters, November 14), I take issue with his intimation that Selby's Labour MP John Grogan did the right thing in voting against the 90-day detention period.

Ninety-nine per cent of the people in this country, irrespective of culture, have nothing to fear from this period of detention because they are law-abiding.

The only people who had anything to worry about regarding these measures were, of course, the terrorists themselves, and anyone mixed up with them and their evil ways.

Every law that is made takes away some liberty from someone.

However, if it is felt by all the people whose job it is to protect us that a 90-day detention period is necessary, then I am quite happy to lose that liberty, because I am really losing nothing and gaining a lot.

Any measure that helps the police thwart the actions of those wanting to murder innocent people going about their daily lives should be welcomed.

Our society now seems so wrapped up with civil liberties, do-gooders and political correctness that soon all we will be able to do is get up in the mornings and creep about quietly, doing nowt and saying nowt for fear that we are offending someone whether they are criminals or not.

Steve Helsdon,

Howe Hill Close,

Holgate,

York.

Updated: 11:00 Wednesday, November 16, 2005