AS a serving police officer at Northwich I eagerly await the weekly letters page with great anticipation.

It seems that the latest 'sport', now that the fox hunting debate has died down, is to attack the police force - particularly from such groups as the Residents' Action Group, Cuddington.

I would like to remind this group that Cuddington is not the only village that is covered: Great Budworth, Whitley, Leftwich, Hartford, Davenham, Little Leigh, Antrobus, Acton Bridge, Arley, Oakmere, Sandiway, Rudheath, Lostock, Lach Dennis, Whatcroft, Wincham, Weaverham, Gorstage, Norley . . .need I go on!

Perhaps the group is unaware that, on average, on any 10-hour shift, there are only three officers on duty.

So how can we cover all these areas with equal commitment?

Yes, I agree that we need more police officers on the beat, but this problem won't be solved by week in week out abusing the officers already on the beat as we have enough verbal and physical abuse to contend with on a daily basis already.

If critics want to know exactly how we work then I suggest that they accompany an officer on patrol (as do the work experience teenagers for the same reason) for a day.

They would then see that they receive the best service available with the limited resources that we have.

The police are not responsible for all the downfalls in the Criminal Justice System as quoted in last week's letter.

The courts and the CPS decide if people are released on bail/charged with offences not the police.

Next we will be blamed for the proposed closure of the magistrates court!

So please, save your criticism, until you have experienced policing on the frontline at first hand.

NAME

and address supplied.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.