THOSE who would criticise policing of anti-fracking protests at Kirby Misperton this past week are misguided.

They may point to the manhandling of women, to the pushing, shoving and shaking of septuagenarians, and to the kettling of elderly people for hours without food or water.

Well, I think we should be grateful to the 70-strong police squad, with its surveillance cameras, listening gear and prisoner carriers.

Where else could they practice subduing and arresting a dangerous terrorist than on a West Yorkshire wife and mother? How better to test tactics than on a 69-year-old pensioner?

Don’t bother with a training course. Practise on the public.

Robert Field, Gilling East, York

Transport grouses proved no delight

I SELDOM take a taxi in York but, temporarily unable to drive, hailed one at St Saviourgate last week.

I was surprised to find at least half a dozen there. I had my ears bashed by the driver all the way home on the iniquities of Uber whose drivers were coming in from the West Riding, charging what they liked and taking away the living of York drivers, many of whom had paid thousands of pounds for a plate.

The city councillor in charge was not flavour of the month. The same city councillor is blamed for the fact that residents of Naburn have been without a bus service for over a month since Utopia folded, necessitating a walk to McArthur Glen or over the old railway track to Bishopthorpe to get to York.

North Yorkshire County Council got a bus service organised for their villages but it seems that City of York Council don’t care about the residents of Naburn.

Bill Heppell, Dringhouses