The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not appear to check addresses of car owners even when it has them on record (Rise of the ‘ghost owner’: 18,000 UK vehicles in use without proper records, 23 April). Where I live, two vehicles are registered that are not mine, and the ultra-low emission zone fines, parking charges and bailiffs’ letters for motoring infractions are piling up. Surely there should be checks before a V5C logbook is issued?
Graeme Thorn
Arnos Grove, London
The increase in ghost owners of vehicles will not be stemmed by controlling who sells cloned plates. For a young person, the cost of insurance could be £1,500 a year. If they get caught, the fine is £400 and points on their licence. That will be seen as a no-brainer. They might think again if the penalty was £5,000, loss of licence and the vehicle being scrapped.
Simon Allen
Wendover, Buckhinghamshire
If the increase in cancer diagnoses is “largely due to a growing and ageing population” (Report, 23 April), why does the NHS stop routine bowel and breast cancer testing after the early 70s?
Jane Ghosh
Bristol
The full version of the “wazzock” insult, as used by Tony Capstick in the early 80s (Letters, 22 April), was “you great useless, spawny-eyed, parrot-faced wazzock”.
Robert Graham
Sandweiler, Luxembourg
I am disturbed that someone thought it necessary to clone extra monarch butterflies into a photo (Corrections and clarifications, 23 April). Are we down to the last two?
Eric Sharp
Newcastle upon Tyne
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