Leslie Beaumont suggests police should apply principles used by the Crown Prosecution Service, while Adrian Guelke calls for an overhaul of the Terrorism Act 2000. Plus a letter from Dr Richard Clubb

Stella Creasy and Peter Hain make a very good argument for changes in the process of proscription and legislation on public order (We voted for and against the ban on Palestine Action. Now we have a plan to end this mess, 18 August). They argue also for “police guidance … by setting out a test of proportionality for any interventions”. Leaving aside the expectation that our police forces already act in a proportionate manner (ie do not intentionally act disproportionately), there is existing guidance on proportionality. This is in the Crown Prosecution Service’s code for crown prosecutors, and it is but a small step to apply its principles to police interventions with a view to prosecution.

The CPS code has a two-stage test, and both must be met before a prosecution can be brought. Stage one requires there to be a “realistic prospect of conviction” (ie evidential sufficiency), and stage two requires prosecution to be in the “public interest”. It is surely in the public interest that criminal prosecutions, which may result in severe penalties, should be proportionate – and it would be outwith the public interest for someone to be brought before a criminal court when such an action is disproportionate.

Leslie Beaumont suggests police should apply principles used by the Crown Prosecution Service, while Adrian Guelke calls for an overhaul of the Terrorism Act 2000. Plus a letter from Dr Richard Clubb

Stella Creasy and Peter Hain make a very good argument for changes in the process of proscription and legislation on public order (We voted for and against the ban on Palestine Action. Now we have a plan to end this mess, 18 August). They argue also for “police guidance … by setting out a test of proportionality for any interventions”. Leaving aside the expectation that our police forces already act in a proportionate manner (ie do not intentionally act disproportionately), there is existing guidance on proportionality. This is in the Crown Prosecution Service’s code for crown prosecutors, and it is but a small step to apply its principles to police interventions with a view to prosecution.

The CPS code has a two-stage test, and both must be met before a prosecution can be brought. Stage one requires there to be a “realistic prospect of conviction” (ie evidential sufficiency), and stage two requires prosecution to be in the “public interest”. It is surely in the public interest that criminal prosecutions, which may result in severe penalties, should be proportionate – and it would be outwith the public interest for someone to be brought before a criminal court when such an action is disproportionate.

Anne King, Marco Ranzani and Wendy James respond to Katharine Viner’s article about the case

While I wholeheartedly agree that the Guardian deserves credit for defending the Noel Clarke libel case, Katharine Viner misses a vital component in her conclusion (The Noel Clarke judgment is a victory for the brave women who told us their stories – and for journalism, 22 August).

Yes it was a “good day for the Guardian, for media in the public interest, and for women” – but it was also a good day for the judiciary. Without confidence in the integrity of our court system, the risks of pursuing the case to a conclusion may well have been stacked against you. Mrs Justice Steyn gave a resounding condemnation of Clarke’s behaviour and upheld the accuracy of the stories published. Well done her, the Guardian and the women who bravely told their stories.
Anne King
Lynton, Devon

Anne King, Marco Ranzani and Wendy James respond to Katharine Viner’s article about the case

While I wholeheartedly agree that the Guardian deserves credit for defending the Noel Clarke libel case, Katharine Viner misses a vital component in her conclusion (The Noel Clarke judgment is a victory for the brave women who told us their stories – and for journalism, 22 August).

Yes it was a “good day for the Guardian, for media in the public interest, and for women” – but it was also a good day for the judiciary. Without confidence in the integrity of our court system, the risks of pursuing the case to a conclusion may well have been stacked against you. Mrs Justice Steyn gave a resounding condemnation of Clarke’s behaviour and upheld the accuracy of the stories published. Well done her, the Guardian and the women who bravely told their stories.
Anne King
Lynton, Devon

While processed foods provide calories, it is plants that produce the micronutrients, antioxidants and flavonoids that our bodies need, writes Mo Wilde

Zoe Williams is sadly not alone in being unable to identify 30 plants a week to eat (We should all be eating 30 different plants a week. I can’t even name that many, 19 August). Nowadays 50% of the world’s daily calorie intake comes from just three species: wheat, corn and rice.

In 2020, I decided to live off “foraging for nettles” – as Zoe puts it – for a year in Scotland, eating only free, wild food. During that period I ate 300 plant species, 21 seaweed species and 87 types of mushroom. This is not untypical of hunter-gatherer intake, and most Indigenous six-year-olds can identify the same number of plants as an adult. While commercially produced and processed foods provide calories, it is plants that produce the incredible variety of micronutrients, antioxidants, flavonoids etc that our bodies need to stay healthy and free of the inflammation that causes pain and so many “modern diseases”.

While processed foods provide calories, it is plants that produce the micronutrients, antioxidants and flavonoids that our bodies need, writes Mo Wilde

Zoe Williams is sadly not alone in being unable to identify 30 plants a week to eat (We should all be eating 30 different plants a week. I can’t even name that many, 19 August). Nowadays 50% of the world’s daily calorie intake comes from just three species: wheat, corn and rice.

In 2020, I decided to live off “foraging for nettles” – as Zoe puts it – for a year in Scotland, eating only free, wild food. During that period I ate 300 plant species, 21 seaweed species and 87 types of mushroom. This is not untypical of hunter-gatherer intake, and most Indigenous six-year-olds can identify the same number of plants as an adult. While commercially produced and processed foods provide calories, it is plants that produce the incredible variety of micronutrients, antioxidants, flavonoids etc that our bodies need to stay healthy and free of the inflammation that causes pain and so many “modern diseases”.