Football Policing: A Burden on the Public Purse?
A fierce debate has been ignited over who should bear the cost of policing football matches, after a significant police presence was required for a recent game. The discussion was sparked by a letter published on November 10, 2025, where a reader questioned the use of public resources for such events.
The controversy centres on the Aston Villa home game against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, which required a deployment of 700 police officers to manage anticipated tensions between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters. Reader Richard Farrar from London argued that these officers would be better utilised fighting crime and apprehending criminals. He firmly stated that the policing of all football and sporting events should be financed directly by the clubs themselves, not by the taxpayer.
Heroism on the Rails and Literary Disputes
In other reader contributions, rail worker Samir Zitouni was hailed as a hero for his extraordinary actions. Stephen from Isleworth praised Zitouni as an ‘ordinary person who did something extraordinary’ by disarming a knifeman on a Cambridge train using only his bare hands and a frying pan. The reader suggested that such bravery warrants nothing less than the George Cross.
The literary world also faced scrutiny, with a reader from Bristol, Julie, challenging a previous opinion on boring books. While another reader had criticised Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Julie contended that the ‘dubious honour’ belongs to George Orwell’s 1984. Despite being an avid reader who normally devours large books in a weekend, she found the relatively short 1984 a ‘laborious’ read that took her six weeks to complete.
Broader Conversations from Readers
The letters section covered a wide range of other topics, showcasing the diverse concerns of the British public.
Technology and Education: Joy Bailey, an 81-year-old from Tonbridge, advocated for the return of copy typing in schools. She shared how the skill she learned decades ago proved invaluable when she undertook two degrees in her sixties, and expressed bewilderment that this efficient method seems to have been superseded by slower alternatives.
Historical Accuracy: Rev Anthony William Mitchell corrected the record regarding Wisbech, emphasising that it is not a village but a historic Georgian market town with a mention in the Domesday Book of 1086. He stressed the importance of accurately representing the town's significant cultural and historical identity.
Representation in Advertising: Col Blake from Ealing offered a perspective on the debate about diversity in TV advertisements. He suggested that the casting of Black and Asian actors is likely a commercial decision to aim products at a wider audience, drawing parallels with ads targeting older people for funeral services or children for sweets. He also noted the comparative lack of Chinese representation in British ads.
These letters, published and updated on November 10, 2025, continue to fuel public discourse on matters of finance, safety, culture, and identity in the UK.
