There must surely be a more economic way of tackling security for these annual seaside jaunts, called party conferences, than flooding the place with armed police and disrupting the carefree flow of humanity with barricades and on-the-spot random searches.

I do not dispute the need for the highest security in these troubled times but there is a much better way than the one currently being implemented.

An aircraft carrier anchored offshore would easily accommodate all those attending the great event. There could surely be no tighter security than a surveillance balloon and a couple circling patrol boats.

The service personnel are already being paid, so no extra cost there. Onboard entertainment could be arranged and the 24-hour bar opened.

The cuisine, I believe, has much improved since Nelson's day and could easily be supplemented by a flow of take-away curries and pizzas from local emporiums.

The police could then get on with their job of keeping the peace, which is what they're paid for. The populace could then go about their business without looking down the barrel of a sub-machine gun.

The party conference could work and sleep peacefully in the knowledge everything was being done for their well-being and security and all at no extra cost to the already over-burdened taxpayer.

-JH Player, Patcham