How dare the president of the Oxford Union dare criticise our police for the mayhem caused at the forum featuring BNP leader Nick Griffin and the Holocaust denier David Irving (Oxford Mail, November 28).

He knew full well what he was instigating when he invited these men to debate.

I, and other Oxford citizens, wrote to him, begging that he cancel the event, pointing out that it would probably cause a protest demonstration and that young innocent people might get hurt.

We told him that our police were already stretched and that they were desperately needed to protect our communities.

I do not believe this forum was arranged because the Union was interested in free speech. It was brought about for pure sensationalism - something to amuse and be talked about in the student bars (and no doubt in the dons' and fellows' private college gardens!).

The president knew what kind of situation he was creating in our city and should take full responsibility, not blame our police.

I truly believe in free speech and am proud that we even have 'Speakers Corner' in Hyde Park. But Nick Griffin and David Irving did not ask to come to our city - they were invited. It was like an organised dogfight for the entertainment of the Union and to bring notoriety to its president.

As for wanting our police to go into the Union to remove protesters, it is not so long ago that the police could not arrest anyone on college grounds without the permission of the University Proctors.

If the president wanted more protection than our police were able to give, he should have arranged more security guards and the university should have paid for them.

Either that, or he should have arranged the event in his home town, instead of bringing trouble to our city.

We need our police to fight crime, not babysit him and his colleagues in their irresponsibilities.

PAMELA WEBBER Bullingdon Road Oxford