Letter: The long list of British informers

Sir: You could have added a few more to your list of informers ("Watching me, watching you", 6 August): banks, who now have to report suspicions of money laundering - it's a crime for them not to (Criminal Justice Act 1988); photograph developers, who are on the lookout for dodgy pictures; schools, if they suspect drug dealing or use; housing authorities, who must report suspected illegal immigrants; travel agents, who have signed a deal with customs and excise to report suspect travel agents; employers, who are about to be signed up to stop illegal immigrants; social workers who suspect child abuse; airline officials who suspect illegal travellers; solicitors, who should even break with legal privilage if, say, a child is being abused or is about to be abducted; doctors, who might shop drunken drivers; the Inland Revenue (the Chancellor of the Exchequer had to apologise when they offered information to the police back in 1989); and journalists, always being asked for video footage taken at demonstrations, riots and so on (to their credit they often refuse).

We can't get enough of it.

T THOMAS

Leeds West Yorkshire