I was selling unwanted items at the Kassam boot sale at the time of the raid by the police and trading standards officers. Before we give them a large pat on the back for a job well done, I would like to add my opinion.

The whole operation was too heavy-handed. A police riot van parking opposite my stall with five officers piling out was enough to make anyone feel guilty.

Behind the van came another, marked 'Trading Standards' with more bodies piling out in plain clothes. This was finished off with a police car with two more officers.

And let's not forget the photographer in his red Rover car, very well dressed for the day, in his shorts.

All these vehicles parked in such a position for many hours, causing an obstruction to those cars and vans wishing to enter or leave the site.

The milling about of these police and trading standards officers, after they had nailed their prey, did nobody any favours. My stall and others nearby had hardly any customers, because people kept away from this huge 'lawful posse'.

There was even an hour given to the police and trading standards officers for the posing of photographs.

And if somebody says it's all done to catch the criminals, I wouldn't agree. The real criminals are those DVD and CD companies that charge extortionate amounts of money in producing their goods.

Apparently, it only costs about 30p to make a DVD, so why do they charge up to £14.99 in the shops? I say leave the sellers of the pirated goods alone and arrest the big companies making all that money.

For people's information, I wasn't selling such pirated goods, but the heavy-handed presence of the police did make me check the tyres on my vehicle. It's funny what you do when so many police suddenly invade, don't you agree?

Perhaps next time, they could park somewhere more responsible. Should I bill the police for a loss of earnings?

Chris Boswell (Mr), Williamson Way, Rose Hill, Oxford