Our lawless cities

THE crime wave afflicting the uK shows the gently-gently approach doesn’t work. Ignoring drug use and no police presence on the streets has backfired.

The public wants to see police officers on the beat, being proactive rather than reactive.

Zero tolerance of minor crime works because it nips in the bud those who may graduate to more serious crimes. daVid sTeele, doncaster. VIoLENT crime is assuming epidemic proportions, yet what can you expect when police numbers are constantly cut?

Politically correct causes are pursued, such as investigating longdead politicians about frequently false allegations, rather than targeting real criminals.

The weak penal policies beloved of the liberal establishment are also to blame.

Colin bUllen, Tonbridge, kent. I SERVEd in the Met in the Seventies and would report for night duty at Kings Cross. As well as constables in panda cars, a van to

collect the drunks and an area car for emergency calls and car pursuits, officers would be assigned a beat to patrol on foot.

If a break-in or damage was reported the next day from your beat, you had a lot of explaining to do.

No wonder the crime rate is soaring with no coppers on the streets looking for crime instead of waiting for it to happen. Where’s our thin blue line gone? BARRy TEAGUE, Coates,

Cambs.