Douglas Lowe in responding to my earlier letter asserts touting is a criminal offence. I am not convinced and he will need to state which law is transgressed. Traders at the Open Market often tout by calling out their wares, sometimes to the annoyance of passers-by, but I think they would be very surprised to be arrested for doing so.

Mr Lowe is also rather naughty when he refers to the "properly" insured taxis by implying the private hire vehicles of the Yellow Cab Company are not insured. I'm sure they have had to satisfy the Hackney Carriage Inspector they are insured to carry passengers for "hire or reward".

What seems to upset Mr Lowe most is the taxis on the Pool Valley rank have lost trade to the Yellow Cabs. That's competition and the customer benefits.

-Peter Bailey, Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton