Headlines capture mad country

How shocked and alarming it was to read the following disturbing headlines in the national newspapers over the weekend. "Paedo No. 2 freed - judge blasts jail crisis" and "Bungling police have lost track of 320 sex monsters".

Also, "Cops let bike nick pair go" - police refused to chase two yobs on stolen motorbikes because they were not wearing crash helmets. Traffic cops feared that if the thieves crashed they might sue for compensation.

"Children as young as nine being used as drug mules by dealers."

"School ban dangerous playground football" - in case pupils get hurt by flying balls.

"Nurses told to work for free" - apparently an NHS trust has asked nurses, doctors and other staff to work one day a week for free to ease £16.7 million debt.

Then I read "NHS trust gives boss No. 2 a £230k pay-off."

I understand that student nurses have been told there are no jobs for them after training. Yet the NHS is crying out for nurses.

Has this country that we once called Great Britain gone totally mad? Have the lunatics finally taken over the asylum?

John Trafford, Oakengates