Police ARE wonderful

I read with interest the letter from Fred Blades of October 30, and his observations on our police officers still being wonderful.

The two misdemeanours he outlined in his letter, particularly the boy flicking pellets, would have been dealt with by way of the teacher administering punishment by way of a stroke or two of the cane.

We have all blown on our fingers, after returning to our desks, for the next half hour, trying to make the sting go away, and were none the worse for it.

However, I am sure Fred is aware that this form of punishment is no longer allowed, and unfortunately the only way the police can deal with matters is by due process of the law. A fact of life today.

With regard to his comments about two members of the police watching a young lad slip under the water, "afraid to get their feet wet", I think the matter requires a little more thought than has gone into this rather glib comment.

Firstly, when I commenced my police career in 1961, part of the definition of my job was "the protection of life and property", and I am sure that if the officers concerned had been police officers, the result may have been different.

But the two officers concerned were community support officers, who had not been trained in life saving techniques, and were no doubt not bound by the same expectation as a police officer. This being the case they would not be expected to risk their own lives.

As for the remarks about our police being wonderful, I would point out that in the monthly police publication News Beat, which is circulated throughout the West Midlands Police and most of us pensioners, there is always a full page of letters from members of the public expressing their appreciation of the service given.

As I write this letter the Express & Star arrives. The headlines refer to a young policewoman in hospital, fighting for her life after being run down as she tried to arrest an offender. Puts it all into perspective, don't you think?

Ray Summerfield, Greenwood Road, Aldridge.