Police turn a blind eye

SIR – Almost 190 years ago, Sir Richard Mayne, the first joint commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, wrote: “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.”

It appears that the police and crime commissioner for North Wales (“Police chief gives the green light to growth of cannabis clubs”, report, August 9) and the chief constable of Surrey Police, regarding illegal camping by travellers (“Force’s softly-softly tweet over travellers leaves residents furious”, report, August 9), have other ideas.

If this is the case then, rather than ignoring the law, perhaps they could set about persuading the lawmakers how wrong they are. Alternatively, they should resign for failing in their primary objective. Simon Crawshaw

Newton Abbot, Devon