Police efficiency

SIR – You report (February 13) that detectives are leaving the police due to the excessive paperwork.

When I was a detective with the Metropolitan Police, serving in the busiest south London station prior to the CPS taking over prosecutions, we made decisions according to credible evidence as to whether to charge a suspect or not, within days of arrest.

For serious crimes leading to jury trials after charge, we then submitted reports in triplicate to the solicitors’ department or in quadruplicate to the DPP, which took over the case when it eventually went to court. As a result of this system we had a much greater conviction rate, including guilty pleas, than today’s bureaucracy. It was rare that prosecution solicitors came back to us for additional evidence or even clarification. We were properly trained and took responsibility for our actions.

Paul Slaughter

Alsager, Cheshire