Has modern policing lost its way?

AS A retired Met police officer, I am surprised at the claim that the public wouldn’t notice if the police went on strike (Mail).

Sir Tom Winsor, outgoing head of the Police Inspectorate, told the Home Affairs Select Committee that only 20 per cent of police time is devoted to crime. Front-line officers will tell you huge swathes of time are devoted to dealing with those suffering from a severe mental health crisis due to a lack of NHS resources.

Police interventions prevent those in a distressed state of mind from committing suicide. Officers rush to stabbings and shootings, often arriving before paramedics to administer life-saving first aid, as well as having to deal with any immediate threat.

Officers are being injured in record numbers when tackling dangerous criminals.

CHRIS HOBBS, London W7. WheN I was burgled, I gave the police the name and address of the suspect, which I had discovered by tracing the location of my stolen iPad. They showed no interest. I question police leadership. Graduate promotion has produced officers with little or no experience or credibility. a woke police service is not catching criminals.

TERRY ROBERTS, address supplied.

I AGREE with criticism of the politicisation and feeble leadership of the police service. They are not there for a popularity contest but to uphold the law and arrest offenders. When I joined the police in the 1960s, I had to learn by heart Sir Robert Peel’s directive The Objects Of An Efficient Police: ‘The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime: the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends all the efforts of police must be directed.’ Stop pandering to the wokes and get back to real policing. Name and address supplied.