IT is often said one way terrorists will score a victory against us is if we curb our inherent freedoms and rights because of their threat.

It is true that in some ways we live in dangerous times and our police and security forces do a far better job keeping us safe from terrorists than we really know.

But the police handling of Michael Jenkins and their attitude towards him afterwards was, frankly, overkill.

The Government is currently running a campaign appealing for people not to dismiss potentially suspicious behaviour and, instead, phone it in.

But there has to be a sense of perspective.

We shouldn’t live in a country where everyday articles in the back of a car brings an armed response to a 20-year-old doing a bit of extra work in his office.

Mr Jenkins says that, instead of realising their mistake and withdrawing gracefully, police told him he was lucky not be charged.

But what with exactly?

And if possession of some stinky clothes and jump leads is now a criminal offence in Britain, the terrorists have won.