All responsible for our own actions

Dear Sir,

Concerning you editorial in last week's Chronicle, it is important we draw a distinction between views, intentions and actions.

Generally, the ability to states one's views however perverse they appear to others is in my view a mark of a tolerant, civilised democratic country.

Otherwise, they go underground where they fester with perhaps undesirable consequences.

Our criminal justice system rightly generally deals with actions that are outside the law.

The tricky decisions are around either giving information or exhorting others to act illegally.

We are all responsible for our own actions though we are also all human and as such sometimes act in line with someone else's views especially when they are in positions of authority over us.

Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST

Middlewich.