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Knife crime concern

The increase in knife crime both locally and nationally is disturbing. Much of it is related to the selling of drugs and territorial disputes between dealers. Unfortunately the use of knives in muggings is also on the rise.

The police always say ‘if you’re caught with a knife you will be arrested and charged’ which seems to threaten law abiding people too. I carry a small, legal Swiss army knife. The blade is less than three inches long and doesn’t lock open. The law is very clear that you can carry knives like that with no problem. It’s a handy gadget to have on you and it’s surprising how often it gets used.

The huge knives and machetes used by criminals are horrendous and a different thing altogether and can kill and maim very easily. There is absolutely no need for them to be on our streets.

I’m not saying all knives are safe, far from it. But you can hardly compare a samurai sword to a small penknife, the kind that many people used to carry. I even remember classmates back in the 70s having them in school and our teachers not being remotely concerned.

Roger Lack, North Swindon

Having their cake...

An interesting letter from Des Morgan (Wednesday) re our old school (Headlands) at Euclid Street.

I was there 1947-1951 and remember very well also squeezing through the railings to go to Gray’s for cakes.

During my last year I received 10 shillings (a tidy sum then) for my birthday and bought cakes for my friends, gaining a few friends more on the day! Cakes then were mostly priced at 3d or 4d (old pence) and delicious. And, no we were not fat... we had lots of exercise in the playground playing games.

Happy memories.

Rodney JM Wirdnam, Whilestone Way, Swindon

Time is money

I HATE the idea of self-service checkouts and I will not use them. However it does seem as though there is talk of more being installed at supermarkets plus design changes.

I do wonder though, if I can I invoice the supermarket for my ‘time and employment’ at the self-service checkout if I use it.

If my earnings are £15 per hour, that is equal to 25p per minute.

So two minutes at the self-service checkout amounts to 50p plus a ‘set-up’ charge of £1. My ‘invoice’ then should be for £1.50, payable within 14 days or a £5 ‘administration charge’ per week will be added until payment is made.

I can see me waiting outside of the Manager’s Office, like issuing a ‘High Court Writ’ until payment is made. If payment is not made, I then seize goods to the value of the ‘invoice’! Then comes the crunch - would I then have to go through the self-service checkout again or chance the alarm going off when I exit the store?

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton