Waste of money

SIR, — I refer to your story concerning the proposition of powers — yet more — given to local authorities to operate mobile surveillance units, the purpose of which being to observe more of us as we stumble on the true path of righteousness. I have seen t

SIR, - I refer to your story concerning the proposition of powers - yet more - given to local authorities to operate mobile surveillance units, the purpose of which being to observe more of us as we stumble on the true path of righteousness.

I have seen these devices elsewhere - odd looking Smart cars with a great stalk protruding from the top like something from a John Wyndham novel. I am often given to wonder what sort of person wakes in the morning and thinks: "Today I'm going to invent something to disadvantage my fellow beings."

Is all this not just another waste of taxpayers' money? Surely all that is needed is to implant a microchip into each person born so that they may safely be tracked wherever they go. Fines could be replaced by a monthly bill representing a fixed sum of money in lieu of the many transgressions that one must now make wittingly or unwittingly each period. Immense amounts would then be saved on all that paperwork and court nonsense, not to mention hardware and maintenance.

STUART EVANS,

Cravells Road, Harpenden.