Border staff took their eye off the influx of cocaine bound for street sale
SIR – It is no surprise to me that cocaine use is increasing as it becomes purer and cheaper – a consequence of greater availability (report, April 9).
I was a senior manager in what was then called HM Customs & Excise and also a director of the UK Immigration Service (Ports). With the political decision to amalgamate frontline Customs and Immigration staff, it was obvious to me that when there was pressure from queues at Immigration, resources would be switched away from Customs checks.
After all, nobody ever complained about not having their goods searched, whereas complaints about delays in the immigration hall are frequent. The consequence of fewer Customs checks is that more drugs and other prohibited goods (including guns) have found their way on to our streets.
The amalgamation of resources was, in my firm view, a massive mistake with inevitable detrimental consequences.
West Wickham, Kent SIR – When will the Government admit that the creation of Police and Crime Commissioners, with their associated administration costs of probably £1 million to £2 million a year for each constituency, has not caused the reduction of a single crime?
They should abolish them and divert the money to fund an increase in the number of frontline police in high-crime areas, where their presence could make a real difference.
Burnham, Buckinghamshire
SIR – In the current debate about the causes of increases in violent crime, including policing shortages, disaffected youth and social deprivation, I have yet to hear the most likely cause for the phenomenon.
This is the lack of discipline in British society, which leads the perpetrators of crime to believe that they are totally unaccountable for their actions. They seem bereft of any form of conscience.
Why must we accept that stabbing another human being is an inevitable act, without the involvement of personal choice or self determination?
Salisbury, Wiltshire
SIR – Peter Amey (Letters, April 7) writes of children and young adults being made aware of the effects on society of their crimes. He quite rightly states it is not the duty of the police. But neither is it totally the responsibility of the social services or the education system. The main responsibility for guiding children lies with the parents.
West Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire
SIR – To imply that the rise in crime is due to the lack of police is like saying the culture of the country is naturally evil and must be suppressed.
What a sad state of affairs! A wellcultured society would not require any policing.
East Ord, Northumberland