Police were over-zealous

I WRITE with regard to the over-zealous tactics employed on Saturday by police forces in dealing with a rave in Great Chesterford. Whilst driving along East Street at about 7pm I was astonished to see dozens of police officers furnishing themselves with r

I WRITE with regard to the over-zealous tactics employed on Saturday by police forces in dealing with a rave in Great Chesterford.

Whilst driving along East Street at about 7pm I was astonished to see dozens of police officers furnishing themselves with riot gear, which would normally be seen during city rioting.

Having witnessed this shocking sight I was unsurprised to hear on the radio the next day of the disruption that occurred later in the evening.

One of the attractions and great benefits of living in the Saffron Walden area is the peace and tolerance engendered by its Quaker tradition.

The abysmal lack of entertainment available to people in the town has long been of concern to residents in the area with adolescent children.

To witness the presence of flak-jacketed militia on a summer's evening in a market town with a Quaker tradition, readying themselves to disrupt a peaceful event organised by a group of youngsters who had the gumption to arrange an evening of entertainment was so genuinely disturbing that I feel the need to voice my revulsion and disgust.

Is it really such a bad thing for youngsters to enjoy themselves in a remote rural area when there is so much drunken violence in market towns and villages throughout the county. What on earth, for goodness sake, did this ridiculous show of strength cost the taxpayer? £20,000? £50,000?

In the enlightened, tolerant 21st century western society in which we supposedly live, such reactionary knee-jerk police action is stupid, insensitive and utterly repugnant.

Peter Mandini, address withheld