THE treatment of Stephen Russell, who was stopped and searched for taking photos of the police (Oxford Mail, February 24) is rather surprising as they seem to allow themselves to be filmed at work on all sorts of operations for television programmes.

The use of Section 43 legislation in this instance is clearly an abuse of civil liberties and another example of this Government’s attempts to criminalise ordinary people.

Orwell’s book 1984 is certainly a very good forecast of what this country is coming to. Roll on the next election. CLIFF HARRIS, Scott Close, Kidlington