Given that we are the people at risk, “the mature and considered discussion” should be had with the public (Britain takes step closer to armed police, 24 June). This is where the debate should be centred and not within a circle of career police and incumbent politicians who, if recent events are anything to go by, are out of touch with our views.
Denbeigh Vaughan
Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire
• Jonathan Bard (Letters, 24 June) is mistaken and will surely be relieved to learn that there is no school in Wales that does not teach English. No one over the age of five speaks only Welsh. Welsh-medium schools produce bilingual students. English-medium schools produce mainly English speakers, who might have a smattering of Welsh – which is, after all, the language of the country in which they live.
Jane Shutt
Llwyngwril, Gwynedd
• Re John Duffy’s letter on cryptic crosswords (26 June): they’re all Welsh to me, I’m sticking with the quick one.
Joyce Blackledge
Formby, Merseyside
• Poor Herbert Hound (Digested week, 24 June). What is John Crace thinking of, not providing him with a fan? Our dog Max has his own fan in our bedroom and makes it very plain if we don’t switch it on at bedtime. It helps that he is now very deaf, as he used to be frightened by the motor. Now he just stretches himself out in front of it, luxuriating in the gentle breeze.
Chris Jones
Bewdley, Worcestershire
• To further complicate the age difference issue with The Graduate (Letters, 26 June), Dustin Hoffman was 31 when the film was released and only four years younger than Anne Bancroft.
Simon Taylor
London
• It’s a relief to learn of another family whose child identified strongly with the characters of the Trumpton Fire Brigade (Letters, 23 June). Our son took a lot of persuading that his name was not Captain Flack if anyone asked.
Norman Swindells
Birkenhead, Wirral
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