Vigilante activities (From Gazette Series)

Vigilante activities

SIR - I read only a week or so ago how much the police were against vigilantes taking part in any law breaking activity.

I now read in your paper (Villagers Have Speeding Drivers in their Sights, January 9) that the villagers of Wickwar are actively being encouraged by the police, by the loan of police equipment and training, to be vigilantes in all but name.

Not only that but the police are sending out warning letters on the evidence of these civilians. Even further they also seem to be letting these people know who the offenders are as they seem to know the percentage of locals who offend.

Surely the police either want vigilantes with all crime or none at all.

One can picture a scenario where some poor old OAP making a last, desperate effort to protect himself/herself and their property manage to poke their fingers in the eye of a burglar only to find the burglar gets off with a caution whereas the OAP gets a prison sentence for assault.

What a strange country we live in!

Craig Crompton, The Street, Frampton-on-Severn