Sir,

In defence of the US, William Rees-Mogg writes (Comment, March 17): "If there is only one policeman in the village, it is no good for the parish council to expect to tell him what to do."

But if the policeman has appointed himself to the job, on the basis that he is the richest person in the viallage and the only one who possesses a big stick, and he's inclined to turn a blind eye when his pals misbehave or where the misbehaviour poses no threat to his own immediate family, then should not all the villagers be feeling just a bit nervous?

In my village that sort of arrangement went out with the feudal system.

Yours faithfully, Geyve Walker.