Italia Post

[Greg.]

Hi Richard,

Yes, I hate it. What happens today and how it is contolled, investigated and resolved is a long way away from my own conviction when I joined up 28 years ago. Over time since then, there has been a continuous devolvemnt of the police service offered to the British public both under the Conservatives and laterly Labour. By way of example, today at work, the local response team paraded an acting sergeant (not qualified) and six other response officers. Two of those were immediately taken up to deal with people already detained in our cells. That left four to try and keep the peace across a wide portion of the city.

In the mid eighty's this same area was covered by 36 constables (four in two cars) and the rest on foot. Not one seargent, but three. How times have changed. It is so easy to critisize the police for poor performance but it is helpful to recognise how, over the years, government interference, regardless of party has erroded the service in our country to the point that it is almost impossible to cope. Yet still we go out there and try to make a difference.

Best wishes,

Greg