Two horrible acts of terrorism took place this week, firstly the killing of two innocent hostages in an Australian cafe and secondly, the slaughter of 132 children in their Pakistan classrooms. All were victims of Muslim extremism.

Sadly, as has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, there is nothing the West can usefully do about the atrocities committed by the Taliban in their own countries. They are beyond our control and the only hope is that the oppressed citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries ruled by Muslim fanatics will somehow rise up and overthrow their tyrannical rulers.

We can, however, do something about the threat within our own countries. The Sydney terrorist was evidently known to Australian police and was in fact on bail when the hostage-taking and subsequent murders took place.

I have no idea why he was allowed out on bail but I do know that in the UK certain criminals from ethnic minorities remain at large because our police are too frightened to arrest them and the courts are reluctant to apply due process of law for fear of accusations of racial or religious prejudice. Such misguided policies are a recipe for disaster as the killing of the soldier, Lee Rigby, on a London street last year clearly demonstrated.

The task of the police and judiciary in any democracy is to act fairly and impartially irrespective of colour, nationality or religious belief. To act in accordance with the rules of political correctness rather than common sense is both dangerous and foolish in the extreme.