Sir, Brigadier Tom Foulkes is surprisingly restrained in his description of the disgraceful treatment meted out to him by the Transport Police at Waterloo (letter, Nov 18, report, Nov 21). Either the Home Office’s idea of an offensive weapon is so prescriptive that common sense cannot be applied (the ban on flight crews carrying contact lens fluid comes to mind), or some of the staff administering security measures are idiots.
This episode seems to have been an example of heavyhanded and bloody-minded officiousness causing embarrassment and inconvenience to a distinguished ex-soldier. It was a gross waste of resources and contributed nothing to the fight against terrorism.
Perhaps the Home Secretary could take time out from trying to frighten the living daylights out of us to pen a letter of apology to the brigadier.
MICHAEL BADGER
Chichester