I AM a white woman who grew up in Asia. I lived there for 16 years through my childhood and teenage years, leaving when I was 21.

My experience reflects the comments of Jack Straw, former Labour Home Secretary (Echo, Jan 10).

It was made clear to me that white girls/women had a very poor reputation and were not considered decent.

Any Asian man wanting to marry a white woman would be disowned by his family.

It was said to me that Asian men were not discouraged from having “their fun” with a white girl – but only until they were ready to marry when a respectable Asian girl would be found.

I was also told to my face that we were whores because we slept around, had no morals or religious values and did not respect our own Christian faith.

If you want to understand a people I believe you can do so best if you live amongst them – and I did so for 16 years.

Name and address supplied.

I NEVER thought I would be congratulating a former Labour minister but Jack Straw has now been able to voice his concerns about what happens when a religious group looks in on itself instead of integrating into society.

I refer to the conviction of a gang of Islamic men who prowled the street in search of girls to rape and defile.

I have previously written of the threat of Islam in respect of home grown terrorism. Now it is home grown crime of the most vile nature.

Islamic groups must accept social and moral responsibility.

They must make it plain that one cannot hide behind the shield of Islam and not accept your home country’s laws and rules.

As far as I am concerned someone must fully integrate into British society. That means accepting this country’s laws and mores.

I accept that non-Islamic men commit sex crimes but also acknowledge that the search for non-Islamic women for sex by groups of Islamic men must be stopped.

C Mortimer, Pity Me.