THE good news is the legal protection for the national anthem and flag is part of a package of "internal security measures" that will become law next week.

Included in the security law are fines and imprisonment for youngsters who intimidate by congregating in stairwells, or beggars, squatters, travellers who trespass and women deemed to be "passively soliciting" for prostitution.

Also becoming a punishable offence, will be insulting anyone who serves the public, from firemen and bus conductors to teachers and housing estate caretakers.

Police will no longer be required to advise criminal suspects of their right to remain silent.

Most of the measures are so popular that the opposition voted with the Government on the law's final passage through Parliament.

The bad news is: The law will be passed by the French Parliament.

BRIAN YATES, Pole Lane, Darwen.