GETTY Australia are debating pulling down British colonialists such as the Captain James Cook statue

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This outbreak of mass hysteria has now spread to Australia. Here in Britain this week one Leftwing commentator seriously suggested that Nelson’s Column in London’s Trafalgar Square should be toppled because Admiral Nelson was “an unashamed white supremacist”. Down Under the latest target is Captain Cook. The Sydney authorities are considering the fate of a statue erected to him in 1879. The base of the statue carries an inscription reading “Discovered this territory 1770”. This, it is feared, could be offensive to Aboriginals who got there first.

Losing patience, the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described these moves as a “Stalinist” rewrite of history. A statue reflects the values of the society that puts it up. It is a piece of history in itself. Many of us pass by statues without having a clue who these people are. They have ceased to matter to us and we have other concerns. But that doesn’t mean that they should therefore be pulled down.

The assembly of The Statue of Liberty Wed, June 17, 2015 The Statue of Liberty arrived on Liberty Island, New York City in 1885. The statue was a gift from the people of France to the United States, it represents Libertas, the Roman Goddess of Freedom. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 15 The assembly of the Statue of Liberty in New York City

Many books contain sentiments which we find unpleasant. Should they be thrown on a bonfire to spare our feelings? The fact that we worry about what statues represent is not in itself a bad thing. But without their continued presence on our streets and in our public places we would not even be having these moral debates. We must learn from history – not pretend it never happened.

All victims are vulnerable VICTIMS of crime who do not speak English will be given priority when it comes to receiving a personal visit from the police because they are deemed to be more vulnerable. This is the suggestion of a senior officer in the Met as a way of coping with the reduction in funding.

PA Craig Mackey said crime victims who don't speak english will be given priority for police visits

Obviously an inability to speak English is a drawback but this proposal will infuriate many who will rightly see it as yet another example of British-born people being penalised while foreigners receive every possible assistance. Anyone who is the victim of a crime is vulnerable and each of us should expect equal treatment from the police force we all pay for.

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