Letter: In hardship's shoes

Sir: The Prime Minister, a Brixton Boy from humble beginnings, suggests that we should condemn crime a little more and 'understand' a little less. The Archbishop of York, educated at Eton and King's, responds that evil can be caused by circumstances and considers the remarks unwise.

Those of us who have not suffered personal hardship and have the means to avoid living where crime is a constant threat should try to imagine ourselves in the position of all those decent people who are not so fortunate - archbishops in particular.

Yours faithfully,

HAMISH ORR-EWING

Purton, Wiltshire

1 March