Cracking crime? Get Durham’s top cop on the case!

a BIG shout out to durham’s Chief Constable Mike Barton (Mail). at last, someone with common sense.

In the past, bobbies on the beat knew their areas, knew the people who lived there — good and bad.

If Mrs so-and-so hadn’t opened her curtains by the usual time, he knew about it because people talked to him. a knock on the door just to see if everything was OK was much appreciated.

Much was learned over a cuppa and a chat. Children looked up to our local bobby because he knew them by name. so if he told them: ‘I’ve got my eye on you, lad,’ it worked wonders.

It might be old- fashioned policing, but it worked. With today’s technology and old- fashioned policing, durham has got it right. Power to your elbow, Mr Barton. We need more like you.

Mrs J. RENNIE, Rochdale, Lancs. I reTIred 13 years ago from the police after 30 years. But give me a badge and uniform and I’d work for Mr Barton — durham’s messiah — tomorrow.

STEVE SCoTT, Southport, Merseyside. ChIeF Constable Mike Barton is leading the way in how we need to be policed. I am also a firm believer in the ‘broken window’ theory, and his approach gives me hope that this once-brilliant country can return to a more law-abiding, respectful, safer place.

It just goes to show what’s required, and that budgets need not be restrictive in employing these simple methods.

Ms C. KEARNEY, W. Sussex.

Bravo, President Macron

I aM in total agreement with France’s President Macron introducing national service for 16year-olds, albeit a watered-down version of what he suggested.

I am in favour of bringing back national service to Britain.

It would give young people a sense of discipline, which is lacking in schools and families; they- would learn skills that could hopefully gain them employment later; it would give make them grounded and teach them self-respect.

It would be particularly helpful for those in families where generations have lived off benefits and never contributed to society.

It might also eradicate the gang culture and knife crime that gets steadily worse, as it comes from a warped search for identity better instilled in the young by the sense of belonging and purpose national service would provide.

GoRDoN KENNEDY, Perth.

Advice for the WAGs

WhY can’t the english football WaGs show some support for the team by keeping a low profile and maybe getting an early night? seeing their line-up picture in the Mail, I am reminded of dolly Parton, who once said: ‘It takes a lot of money to look this cheap.’

SuE BARDoLPH (retired model), London SW5.

Traveller woes

The national Police Chiefs Council wants to create many more official traveller camps and has rejected new stronger powers to deal with unofficial ones.

Can I suggest a camp be placed next to each of the police chief’s houses, so they and their families can see for themselves how fantastic their stance is?

NEIL CoNNELLY, Romford, Essex. The story of travellers and the police only goes to prove that what was a police force then morphed into a police service has now become a collection of farleft social workers who will always stand against the lawabiding majority.

B. EKINS, Chessington, Surrey.

Driven to distraction

reGardInG the Manchester residents who laid their wheelie bins down in the road to stop selfish non-residents parking there (Mail), we have exactly the same problem in the Maybush district of southampton.

however, instead of southampton City Council looking into ways to help the residents, it affixed notices to our wheelie bins telling us that if we placed them in the road other than on collection days, we would be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

Our problem is exacerbated because we happen to live within walking distance of southampton General hospital.

JoHN TANSLEY, Southampton.