HOW timely, on the day (December 29) the Echo reported the plight of a refugee and her son born in the UK who are threatened with deportation to the Republic of Congo, yet another massacre there is announced.

Just when will the Home Office use some common sense and allow genuine refugees, such as those from the Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe to stay, and work.

There should be no problem with this if all the refugees from justice in their own countries are returned regardless of their likely fate.

This countries proud record of providing succour to genuine refugees is going fast, while we gain a reputation of protecting terrorists and violent criminals.

As we are so interested in the well being of the latter ‘refugees’ should we not arrange for personnel from the Border Agency to accompany the genuine refugees back to their homelands and to stay with them for three months to monitor their safety.

I suspect this would lead to a complete change of heart by these jobworths.

Alan Kebbell, Southampton.