Churchill introduced ID cards during the war, and promised to abandon them after it was over. Before he could, the conservatives were defeated, and the incoming Labour government made a decision to keep them.

In 1952, a Horsforth Liberal, Harry Wilcock, was stopped by the police whilst driving in London and ordered to produce his identity card. He refused, arguing that the cards had been a wartime emergency measure. The magistrates’ court agreed with his argument in principle but, as the law was still in force, could only find him guilty and give him an absolute discharge. Wilcock appealed against his conviction and the Lord Chief Justice sat on the appeal. Lord Justice Goddard upheld the decision of the lower court but agreed with Wilcock, saying, “in this country we have always prided ourselves on the good feeling which exists between the police and the public. Random demands to see identity cards tend to make people resentful of the acts of the police and incline them to obstruct the police instead of assisting them.” The following year parliament abolished identity cards without even a division.

These officers behaved disgracefully. The force has not, apparently, disciplined them, they were not charged with common assault, they were not dismissed. It looks like their bosses were not altogether displeased with their actions. That suggests there may be more around. Perhaps you could point out where I damned every police officer in the country, or even the Met, as being like this crew.

The biggest problem with cases like this is not so much what happened, but the number of officers prepared to either strain reality to defend any action by any officer, no matter how stupid, or alternatively to praise them with faint damns.

I used the term 'poltroon' because it popped into my head as an expression in common use on my RAF station many (many) years ago, where it was (mis)used to mean an fool, or idiot. Having said that, I don't think it's a step too far to use in the case of the idiots involved in this situation. Their actions in failing to arrest this woman properly, and then walking off without either apology or explanation, and failing to identify themselves certainly seems to fit the bill.

As a matter of interest, I took about 650 images at the show, all on one battery, which is still showing full on the indicator.

Now that's a tip worth trying.

Just got back from the Royal International Air Tattoo. Took loads of pics, but I have to say that there has been a high failure rate, although I like to think that one or two wern't too shoddy. Mainly blurring issues, or possibly focus awry just enough to soften the image.

Here's my question. I have a K20D, newly acquired, and I'd like advice on the best settings for pics of hairyplanes going batty all round the sky. Lens I have at present, main one is a Pentax 55-300, which I find about does on the focal length side.

Any experienced suggestions on settings, ASA, shutter speed, aperture, modes, or anything I've missed. All would be welcome.

P.S. Apologies offered. I have done a search on the board, but couldn't find much. Probably down to the way I searched.

Coo! Looks like I got a couple of bargains then. Both cameras have under 1000 clicks. One K20D and one *ist DS.

Does anyone know for sure if upgrading the firmware will reset the shutter count? If it doesn't then I have a couple of secondhand Pentax cameras that seem to have a very low count.

OK, I was weak. There was a chance to 'upgrade' from my K200D to a K20D and I took it. So, having done the deed and having handled the camera, I now realise that there are more menu options that Starbucks, and more knobs to twiddle than a Belfast choir master.

What tips to K20D owners have for someone new to the camera as regards settings and use of all these options?