James O’Doherty is to be applauded for insightfully adding commonsense to our interpretation of the behaviour of Police Minister Yasmin Catley after recent shootings on our beleaguered Sydney streets (Minister feeling pressure – Opinion, 28/7). Issues of law and order should be bipartisan, especially when innocent people are killed by murderous drug cartels. Rhetoric of politicians having blood on their hands in this debate is misplaced. Ms Catley has one singular role in which to succeed which she is yet to exercise and Mr O’Doherty rightly identifies – she is to be the lightning rod that instils fear and loathing in the festering thieves with their drugs, killing more people with their noxious pharmacology than noisy bullets in the daylight hours. Paul O’Toole’s attempt to opportunistically blame Labor for these long standing problems is hypocrisy from a figure whose time in the limelight should surely pass. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 31July2023.