I WAS surprised to hear mutterings about civil liberties infringements when the police began lobbying for the power to seize booze from people in the town centre and North Swindon.

Certain members of the public that I've spoken to suggested that the measure would be the latest incursion of the nanny state into people's freedom to have a drink with their picnic or use a beer garden.

As I dare say you know by now, I am not what you'd call an unthinking supporter of anything claimed by the folks in charge. However, that doesn't mean I think the police being given the power to confiscate booze is the first step on a slippery slope that ends with folk being Tasered for having offensive personal hygiene habits - although that might not be such a bad idea.

If you decide to have a little picnic in the countryside with family or friends, and you elect to include a nice bottle or two of red or white to wash down the sandwiches, Scotch eggs and crisps, your alcohol will not be confiscated.

If the fare consists of an impertinent little super-strength lager with a meths top and a wee metal polish chaser, the chances are that your alcohol will be confiscated.

Ditto if your favoured post-picnic activities incline not toward throwing a Frisbee for the dog or going on a nice country ramble, and more toward running around in circles with your undergarments on your head, proclaiming that you are being chased by giant spiders.

If you use the beer garden of your local hostelry (admittedly, you'd need to we wearing some of Sir Ranulph Fiennes's donations to his local charity shop in order to make that an enjoyable experience at the moment), you need not fear that police officers will spring from the undergrowth and seize your pint pot.

It may be different if you seek alternative entertainment such as accusing a random stranger of looking at you, starting a fight with a friend or yourself, or lying on the pavement and questioning the parentage of passers-by.

I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

It's alarming stuff

ACCORDING to a report in this very newspaper this week, any attempts to switch refuse collection here to a pay-as-you-throw arrangement will be fiercely resisted by our civic leaders.

The only way in which such a scheme will be imposed here, it seems, is if it is forced on us.

Is it just me, or is there a faint sound of bells around here?

Almost likelikealarm bells?

Yes, that's it.

4:52pm Saturday 1st December 2007

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