ANYONE who no longer accepts that our Government spies on all of us needs their head examined. The only area open to debate is the degree with which it is done. The broadcasting of details of how this is performed as related by Edward Snowden in Monday night’s BBC Panorama programme is to me a sign that the mainstream media can no longer suppress information readily available on the internet.

It may be news to many who confine their reading to the tabloid press that government agencies can actually remotely control a person’s mobile phone as well as accessing any data stored there, but what makes them believe their personal computers are safe? How many people know that there is a more reasonable chance that the hard drive on their shiny new pc or laptop has built-in software placed on it by the US National Security Agency (NSA) that allows the agency to monitor every keystroke you make? Do people think that Microsoft is the only agency that can rummage around in their computer when it is online? How many people know that GCHQ (our spooks) work hand-in-hand with the NSA and is partly funded by American taxpayers? Did they know that every electronic communication emanating from or arriving from the UK is monitored and shared? Do they care? Well they should.

The authorities while admitting they gather everything maintain they only look at specific items and only then with ministerial permission. Do I believe them?

Wait a minute until I adjust the zip up the back of my head. I remember the days of the Cold War when Russia was branded a “police state” with KGB tentacles worming their way deep into society, it seems to me that rather than beat them we joined them, if indeed it was ever any different here.

David J Crawford,

Flat 3/3 131 Shuna Street, Glasgow.

IF anyone did not realise we are sleepwalking into a police state then events in Manchester last weekend must surely be a wake-up call.

A fully legal anti-austerity march was organised by various bodies including the TUC to coincide with the first day of the Conservative party conference (“Anti-austerity protesters label Conservatives ‘scum’ while Corbyn appeals to keep it simple”, The Herald, October 5). Up to 80,000 people are estimated to have attended. There was no reason to suspect violence yet in addition to the normal police presence and marshalling Greater Manchester Police (GMP) thought it appropriate to have police snipers positioned on rooftops overlooking the route of the march. They were photographed with sniper rifles mounted on tripods and aimed at the marchers.

When challenged about the presence of snipers GMP responded that the guns were there to "observe" because of their sights obviously never having heard of binoculars and telescopes which are much more powerful than rifle sights. But surely they reached the heights of absurdity when a GMP spokesperson stated "they were not there to shoot people." Do they really think we are so stupid that we will accept this incredibly ludicrous explanation. Marksmen are only deployed for one reason.

Surely it is essential for us to be told who ordered this deployment and how high up the levels of government was this advised and approved.

David Stubley,

22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.