FOLLOWING the very reasonable letter from the Cuddington Residents' Action Group, I would like an answer to a basic question: What are the police for?

This is not a rhetorical question.

I want to know.

I know what they used to be for.

Their main purpose when they were set up was to deter crime by their presence. When did this change and who changed it? I have to say that it still seems to me to be an excellent idea.

Perhaps Superintendent Ian Johns can enlighten us, or one of your correspondents with a grasp of the history of policing.

TONY WILCOX

Royle Street,

Northwich.

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