SUBSTANTIALLY increasing the number and thus visibility of police pedestrian patrols , armed with the right to stop and search as they thought fit, would obviously have a deterrent effect and consequently reduce the frequency of the recent appalling knife attacks ("Family plea as teenage girl's knife murder sees city death toll rise to 18", The Herald, March 4, and Letters, March 6).

However, even if the funds could be found for that, I doubt politically such action could be introduced against the vociferous objections to be expected from the more liberal-minded amongst us, arguing that it would amount to an infringement of the human rights of those being stopped and searched. So murder and mayhem by knife will continue unless and until a future generation has somehow been educated away from the present knife carrying culture.

In the meantime, could the present problem at least be mitigated to some extent by limiting the availability of and access to non-domestic knives? From a simple internet search, it is surprising to see the apparent ease with which all sorts of vicious-looking combat-style knives can be purchased. Why are they on sale, and for that matter why does anyone wish to buy them unless for the possibility of using them to harm others?

The sale of other things considered potentially harmful such as guns, poisons and drugs are controlled or banned, so why not also those knives which are designed to harm rather than for obvious domestic purposes?

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon’s View, Dunlop.

A tale of two ferries

WHEN I read your headline “Ferry row should bring down Government” (The Herald, March 6) I assumed it referred to the Calmac-Ferguson’s ferry debacle. While I agree Chris Grayling is a useless, incompetent minister, Alan Brown and Joanna Cherry would do well to remember tat people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

If their measurement for bringing down a government is wasting £33m I suspect the SNP may be ahead of that particular game already. but I doubt we’ll hear as the Calmac ferry situation is shrouded in secrecy. Oh, and let’s not mention Prestwick Airport.

I suppose at my age I should realise that one of the purposes of Government is to waste the taxpayers' money, a purpose both Holyrood and Westminster excel at.

Ian McNair,

James Street, Cellardyke.

Football get-out for Yousaf

I REFER to your recent articles and letters on the subject of sectarianism at football matches and today’s proposal by Humza Yousaf to close football grounds ("Yousaf tells clubs to tackle sectarianism or he will close grounds", The Herald, March 6).

During a lecture in the mid 1970s on constitutional law our lecturer was discussing the principle of "desuetude", laws which have fallen into disuse but have never been repealed, quoting as an example a law by James VI/I which banned the playing of football in public places. However, he cautioned us against expressing a personal legal opinion on the matter at Parkhead or Ibrox.

Since the Act is still on the statute book it should not be beyond the capabilities of the Scottish Government’s advisors and civil servants to have it revived or re-enacted in modern form as an effective deterrent to the problem of football sectarianism.

Then Mr Yousaf would be able to parody our esteemed Prime Minister, no football in public places, no football sectarianism, simples.

George McKenzie,

Rubha nan Gall, 48 Ardbeg Road, Rothesay, Isle of Bute.