Extortion by bullies

If you look at the fifth point in the list of 16 basic human rights contained in the European Convention it states that a man has a right to a fair trial, and beneath that is the statement that there will be no punishment without law.

One man's word against another has never been enough in this country. Are we to believe the government has agreed to adopt these 16 rights with no intention of even trying to stick to them?

I would say, judging by the discrepancies in the original letter accusing my father of throwing chewing gum from his car back in July of last year, that Walsall Council did not check their facts before proceeding with this reckless waste of time. It can only be described as extortion and bullying.

With absolutely no evidence, the council has pushed ahead with this matter. In the face of much criticism from the press and public alike, knowing they are going against the law of the land, they have dragged the matter out and put us all as a family through so much unnecessary stress.

This would not have happened to a pedestrian. No one would have had any way of knowing his details, his name, age, address.

This issue, if the council is successful, means anyone employed in this particular department, without any formal legal training (the sort the police are required to have), can say they saw someone throw down litter in the street. It would seem they need no other evidence to prosecute him and can see to it that his liberty is taken away along with his cash, without fair trial. Effectively, if they see a face they don't like, they can "nail" him.

This is indicative of the way our country has been taken over by the bullying culture. People with no business being in control of the law, seemingly above the law, are entitled to extract money from anyone he or she chooses - and this government is right behind them.

I suggest we all protest before we collapse into lawlessness.

G Randle, Cornhill, Walsall.