Sir – On an idyllic Saturday afternoon we were strolling down Broad Street with two friends visiting us from the other side of the world. Outside the Sheldonian there was a small, impeccably-behaved animal rights protest.
On our side of the street, two policemen armed with cameras and huge telephoto lenses were taking photos of anyone who joined the protestors. When I asked them why, they said “for intelligence purposes”.
How do I explain to our foreign friends that, in our great democracy, just crossing the street to join a peaceful demonstration would now be enough to put their faces on a police intelligence database?
The first time I witnessed this practice was in East Germany in the 1980s. Then I found it intimidating and very unBritish. Now, in Oxford in 2009, we accept it as quite routine.
Jon Barton Watlington
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here