DOUBTLESS Mr Mcternan was not responsible for the headline to his original letter “Forget human rights – we are at war again” (Letters, June 6) nor was he “suggesting a ‘round-up’ of any groups of people due to their race, creed or colour”.

Nevertheless his original letter was clearly calling for 20,000 terrorist suspects to be detained or deported, in his words without reference to any “namby-pamby human rights” they may have.

But suspected by whom and on what basis? MI5? Amber Rudd? Theresa May?

Two points.

Firstly, I would accept unreservedly that there has been much to criticise about both the content and application of human rights legislation but that is a matter for our legislators.

No one, literally no one, can safely be entrusted with unfettered power, for unfettered power is tyranny and despotism, so there must be some basis on which executive power can be challenged.

Secondly, we need to keep a sense of proportion. Deaths and injuries which result from actual “terrorist” attacks are hugely regrettable but still represent a relatively small proportion of the whole and, for the victims at least, the results are much the same.

If Mr Mcternan were to be (wrongly) suspected of homicide or causing grievous bodily harm and banged up on the mere say-so of MI5, the police or some Government minister, I’m sure he would welcome the opportunity for independent challenge.

It’s what we used to call “due process” but nowadays is more usually termed “human rights”.

Tony Lawton, Skelton, York