So much legislation is just unnecessary

MOST of us will have, at some stage in our lives, clear objectives of what we wish to achieve, but later, perhaps unwittingly, ended up on a completely different path. Scientists and lawmakers are no exception.

Drugs developed to counter a specific disease are often later used to treat a completely different ailment. In a similar vein, once the technology became available, the Home Office clearly stated that “the purpose of automatic numberplate recognition in the United Kingdom is to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality including tackling organised crime groups and terrorists”. Yet recently this law has been used to perversely apprehend those found to be travelling greater distances in contravention of Covid legislation. The more laws we have on the statute book, the greater the possibility of such anomalies occurring and a higher possibility of injustices.

Politicians see themselves as exempt and feel free to travel, even as far as other countries of the United Kingdom. Police forces equally consider themselves as exempt from such laws – how else can they apply handcuffs to suspects whilst respecting social distancing?

It is perhaps in the nature of politicians to believe that all problems can be solved by imposing yet more laws. The law is sacrosanct, or so we have always been led to believe. With an ever burgeoning amount of legislation, much of it illthought out, unnecessary, and often draconian, it is little wonder that sections of the public should react violently.

Anthony G Phillips Salisbury