“Swat Selby” burglar alarm, York • They like birds in York: yesterday a raven, today a hummingbird. Although the “SW” in “SWAT” suggests it’s a swift. Or a swallow. Yes, I think it’s a swallow – hovering over the badly-drawn monogram “AT” rather than a nest. In Selby. As swallows do. I wonder if SWAT is intended as a verb – as in swat all pesky burglars – or as an acronym, as in its original meaning of “Special Weapons and Tactics” (which would be rather exciting in smalltown Selby) or, more locally, “Selby’s Wonderful Alarm Technologists”? All very mysterious. • Spotted: Low Petergate, York, Yorkshire, YO1, 2011 • Politics: In the Labour constituency of York Central
