BRITAIN is becoming a diverse community enriched by all faiths and colours represented in towns and cities like Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Preston, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bradford etc., people live well together and, for the majority of the time, in harmony and peace.

That is not to say that racism does not exist, or that fascism is not rising. It does in a few places, but, for the majority, each member of the community is valued for the contribution they make, irrespective of their ethnicity.

Unfortunately the media frenzy and the negative statements of some irresponsible political figures on asylum can disrupt this fragile peace and harmony.

I have no problem with those who question our asylum system and its efficiencies. It is true that the current number of applications to the UK is very high and that there are those who claim asylum when in reality they are economic refugees.

However, there are also those who seize upon these comments to label anyone with a different colour skin as any asylum seeker or to question their validity within our country. This should not be acceptable to us as a democratic and multicultural nation.

Britain has a proud history of providing assistance and humanitarian aid to those who are in genuine fear of persecution and in need of asylum. We also support legal migration of those who can contribute to our economy and for the betterment of our society and we have a work permit scheme to facilitate this.

Britain has been vastly improved by the contribution that people from around the world have made and are still making when coming to the UK.

Where people attempt to abuse the system, it is right that we tighten our laws and I welcome any initiatives in this direction.

I know from experience that a few people have arrived in this country on a tourist visa and, having stayed, applied to remain as any asylum seeker. This is simply exploiting our system and it is these types of cases that damage public perception of those who are genuinely seeking this country's protection and support.

The government has been reasonably quick in processing asylum cases, but it must do more. It is important that we get this sensitive issue into perspective. We have a very difficult task to tighten our asylum laws, but not an impossible one. We must not allow these issues to00 be seized upon by racist xenophobes and narrow-minded groups which try to insinuate that all asylum seekers are a serious threat to this country.

This is simply not true. This negative and narrow outlook can damage our peaceful and harmonious relations. A fair and efficient system with integrity is what we need.

Councillor IMTIAZ PATEL (Blackburn with Darwen Liberal Democrats), Harwood Gate, Blackburn.