The first was the apocalyptic headline of a 'Blitz' on car parking and the other Tom Levitt's justification for his support for 42 day detention without trial for 'terror' suspects.

A 'blitz', as if we needed reminding, comes from the German word, 'Blitzkrieg' meaning swift sudden military offensive, most effectively used by bombers on the cities of both Britain and Germany as a terror weapon against civilian populations. If the Advertiser is interpreting Derbyshire County Council correctly in what they anticipate happening, then pass me my tin hat!

Forty two days detention of terror suspects without trial is an attempt to show this government being 'tough' on terrorists and as Tom Levitt says 'protect the vast majority of us from harm.' He then states that 42 days is quite modest in comparison with an American girl in Italy being held for over a year without charge. I think you will find her alleged crime has nothing to do with a terrorist offence, Tom.

Which leads to the connection between the two items. Both actions are being perpetrated for the good of the 'people' when in fact '...parking officers out and about making Derbyshire a safer place' (Councillor Lucas) and (forty two days] 'protecting the majority of us from harm' (Tom Levitt) will do absolutely nothing to these ends.

These actions are just two in the long line of distortions to our legal framework which are dressed up 'for our own good'. Why is it that I do not trust these 'safeguards' Mr Levitt mentions when there is no clear definition of who might be defined as a 'terrorist'? Why do I not think that penalising motorists for the 'serious offence' of parking in the wrong place will lead to 'improved safety for drivers and pedestrians'?

It is because the pusillanimous thinking behind these laws and regulations is so steeped in the myth that to protect people you need to control them through a vast number of petty bureaucrats who make up the ever growing Enforcement Industry. Car parking charges are just another surreptitious local tax levied to pay for the enforcers.

Forty two days or a hundred days will make little difference to the determined group ready to destroy themselves and their target if our Intelligence Services are unable to detect and locate the perpetrators quickly.

I find both these decisions devoid of any real understanding of the priorities of our security and well being. They are decisions made by people hemmed in by financial targets, diktats from their bosses, spurious research, inadequate skills and a hyped-up media industry.

We don't need parking charges of any description as they breed discord between 'us' and 'them.' We need just as long as it takes for our Intelligence Services, the police and the judiciary to investigate a threat and decide speedily what action is needed.

And please, preserve us from the Blitz of the bureaucrat where they are not needed!

Pat Chapman
Grosvenor House
Broad Walk
Buxton