Comment is Free

The Guardian web site has a section entitled "Comment is Free". Exercising this 'right' is Jack Straw who insists that Britain is NOT becoming a police state (because it already is???). At the bottom of his article (and I have noted this also on likewise 'controversial' articles) is this little piece of text:







For me, the real issue is not so much that of a 'police state', it is more of the enforced secrecy or lack of clear definition (e.g., the 'Do not photograph policemen').

However eloquent Mr. Straw may be with regard to this matter there is clearly a groundswell of opinion regarding the surveillance (CCTV and other) of members of the public, the poor definition and enforcement of laws. If not, why then does he have to turn around and write the article?