Letter: Eco-criminals

Sir: Security arrangements are of course a matter for the police, but if a new unit targeting "green" protesters is to be formed, there is good reason (report, 7 November).

Despite Ken Livingstone's glib tone (letter, 11 November), hunt saboteurs frequently break the criminal law, with seven convictions in the last four weeks alone. More seriously, the three most extreme animal rights activists convicted this decade - jailed for a total of 39 years for crimes such as possessing explosives, attempted arson and criminal damage - began their involvement in the "animal rights" campaign as hunt saboteurs.

So while hunt sabotage itself may not merit the attentions of MI5 or Special Branch, some of its practitioners do.

PAUL LATHAM

Countryside Alliance

London SE11