YORK police are over-reacting by calling for a ban on Big Issue sellers in the city (April 2).

A two-day operation by benefits investigators and police seems to have resulted in no more than three homeless people identified as breaching the unemployment or asylum regulations.

Big deal.

Selling the Big Issue is hardly a route to riches, nor is standing in the cold and rain trying to sell a magazine.

At least the people concerned are trying to get back on their feet and make a living without turning to crime or begging.

Perhaps some of the police time spent on investigating Big Issue sellers and beggars could more usefully have been spent investigating the shocking racial harassment of a mixed race schoolboy reported in the Evening Press (March 18), because York police chief Andy Bell says the police response to the attacks is limited by lack of resources.

Peri Stracchino,

Burlington Avenue, York.

...IF a person is in the country illegally, kick him out.

The citizens of York should be asking questions about why the illegal immigrant was not arrested by the authorities, put in jail then deported. Other countries do this; why not England?

Trev Audin,

Avonhurst Road,

Ontario, Canada.

Updated: 11:14 Monday, April 05, 2004