IN distinct contrast to the targeting approach, central in Home Secretary Jack Straw's crime reduction strategy unveiled last month, police forces nationwide are adopting a massive catch-all technique - as, next month, they mount the biggest-ever road block operation across the country.

It is called a road safety operation. But that is a disingenuous description. For if it is dangerous vehicles they are after, why will this one-day Operation Mermaid also have benefits agency inspectors, immigration officials and customs officials manning these road blocks?

Obviously, this co-ordinated giant trawl also aims to net dole cheats, illegal entrants and booze and tobacco bootleggers. And, apparently, from smaller versions of Mermaid previously conducted by local forces at different times of the year, the system works.

Evidently, it has persuaded police chiefs - and, no doubt, government ministers - to go the whole hog.

But while accepting that only wrongdoers may fear or really resent this intrusion, many may see this as a sinister step towards police-state tactics and away from notions of liberty and freedom of movement - but then have we not seen the dubious overtures for this in the random-in-all-but-name Christmas and New Year breathalyser blitzes?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.