Western Mail

Bobbies on the beat are best protection

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THE odd soldier or two swanning around a shopping centre is not going to stop suicide bombers.

Community policing, which was decimated by previous government­s, was the best preventati­ve solution to the problem, as it meant locals could easily give informatio­n to the local bobbies on the beat regarding any concerns with people in their locality.

This was much more effective than ringing a distant helpline number which relies on switchboar­d operators to attempt to prioritise informatio­n, and as we have seen with the Manchester suicide bomber, these warnings can go unheeded.

Armed policemen and soldiers walking the streets is a vanity exercise.

It’s a bit like having firefighte­rs walking the streets to deter arsonists.

Toby T Brewster Pontcanna, Cardiff

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