Letter: Why don't the police patrol?

LETTER: It never ceases to amaze me when reading the actions that the police service now resorts to in order to justify its existence and regain public confidence, which now seems to have been lacking for some considerable time.

I refer to the latest (Star November 9, "Police team's priority is to improve area"), which refers to their getting out and about in the community being the key to improving neighbourhoods. So what is new about this, I ask.

This is what the service was all about some 20 years ago when police officers regularly patrolled the streets and stations were open for virtually 24 hours.

To see a uniformed presence on our streets, now a rare sight, is what the public have always wanted. It goes a long way towards reducing drunken behaviour, assaults, violence and wanton damage.

Unfortunately senior officers show very few leadership qualities, which reflects down through the rank structure.

Our towns are left to their own devices with traffic gridlock only too apparent. For whatever reason the police consider that any form of traffic management is beneath their dignity.

The use of Community Support Officers (CSOs), with few or no enforcement powers, is not the answer.

They are now being used for duties that they were never intended to do, which has resulted in their absence on the streets.

Senior police officers everywhere need to get their heads out of the clouds, exercise better leadership, stop wasting time on Pact and similar meetings, constant self praise and the closure of stations.

Criminals throughout the UK must be laughing their heads off at the "soft touch" justice system.

Bernard Jones

Powys