Clamp down on selfish shoppers and jail black-marketeers

From: David Loxley, Hartoft, Pickering.

PERHAPS it is now time for our Government to stamp very hard on those who are buying up all they can to strip the shops of food and essential items.

I have tried to find a suitable word to describe such selfish humans and it seems that the English language does not have any such word.

If it does, it can only be one which publishers are reluctant to print.

Any such person, on summary conviction, must face a minimum fine of £1,000 plus court and prosecution costs; a subscription to charitable help services commensurate with the magnitude of their sin and confiscation of their hoard for distribution to the needy.

Anyone found to be black marketeer ing to be given an on negotiable prison sentence, say a minimum of five years.

This would not stop the activity but it might slow it down, and, if the perpetrators are publicly identified, they might feel a little contrition for they are not deserving of pity.

From: Peter Wood, Scaftworth Close, Doncaster.

I KNOW there is a global crisis but was it so bad that retail establishments such as the Wetherspoons pub chain, and others no doubt, could refuse payment in cash and only accept payment by card?

Banknotes may be able to transmit the virus and I can understand that staff would rather not handle them but there is a serious principle involved here. Older people often prefer cash to ‘plastic’ – some may not even possess a payment card.

The Sovereign’s head appears on banknotes and coins for a reason – it signifies that they are legal tender and must be accepted as payment for goods or services. I’ve not noticed the Queen’s head featuring on any of my payment cards!

From: Malcolm Toft, Windsor Avenue, Silsden.

SURELY it is more dangerous to visit a supermarket than a pub during the present health emergency, in my immediate vicinity at least?

The aisles are crowded in my local German-owned store. Where all these extra shoppers are arriving from is a mystery.

From: Jarvis Browning, Fadmoor, York.

WHERE is all the surplus food that would have gone to hotels, pubs and restaurants? Why is there a shortage on our shelves?