for the police to get tough

FOR too long now, this group has been pussyfooting around the subject of policing. Too long have the police been given the benefit of the doubt.

Firstly we should like to put one thing straight. The group are fearful for the safety of the elderly people we represent, not for ourselves. Fear can be too strong a word, perhaps cautious would be a better one or even prudent.

This is in reference to the (seemingly also prudent) "anonymous" reader, who didn't notice the couple of adverts in the Guardian, regarding the then forthcoming Police Forum.

We would suggest he/she becomes a regular reader. He/she has made some very valid points in the letter, to which a lot of us can relate to. Some of them need further analysis.

Another important comment was made about us not being willing to back up what we see. You couldn't be more wrong.

We would suggest you get your facts right before you accuse others of what you suppose them to be. Easily done - just ask the police or the borough council, as to how helpful our action group has been.

Having got that off our chests, it would be fair to say that the writer has got it absolutely spot on with reference to waiting for crimes to happen before targeting them.

The police will claim there are unmarked cars. Whoops! How convenient - who would be able to argue with that.

We the public have really had enough. We cannot go around with truncheons in our pockets, without the fear of being charged with having an offensive weapon.

We cannot approach, in numbers, a person suspected of a crime, without being accused of being vigilantes. But you can.

Stop expecting the public to do all the dangerous work, whilst you sit back and decide whether or not there's enough evidence to prosecute.

When you have had witnesses, that have agreed to give you the evidence to prosecute, they have suffered harassment and intimidation from those that are now released on bail.

We can cite a few instances of this. Your reply has been to report such incidents, so they may be arrested again, then let out on bail again. How does this help the citizens who are trying to do the right thing?

You have chalked up two arrests, but at what cost? They only move after the event. This went on for months for one person.

No more excuses, a police force that falsely takes pride in detecting less than a third of all reported crime means that over two thirds get away with it - what a plus for the criminal.

CO-ORDINATOR

Residents Action Group, Cuddington.

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