Want more police? Then you must be prepared to pay for them
THE primary object of an efficient police force is the prevention of crime, so said Sir Richard Mayne, the first commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, in 1829. However, with the closing of police stations and centralisation of departments and services to save money, prevention is no longer the focus. Now the police are a reactive service responding to crime and everything else that the public wants them to do. The main problem is that everyone judges success by statistics ti ti and figures. So how many crimes did the bobby on the beat prevent just by walking, cycling or driving around their area? Who knows — it is something that cannot be quantified. I am a retired police constable and I have seen the force change out of all recognition. Gone are the personal relationships with the public. Gone is local knowledge of the area and the people. Gone is the gathering of intelligence by local CID officers in the pubs. b It all comes down to money and taxes. The public want everything, but are not prepared to pay for it in taxes. Governments are elected on the promise to cut taxes, so we get fewer council services, more potholes and understaffed hospitals. With a growing population, the public services should be getting larger to cope with the additional workload. So, come on, Britain, stop moaning. If you want the services, then pay for them.
DERRICK FULKER, Southampton.