I NOTE in The Bolton News that MP David Crausby will be pushing for a mobile police station to be set up in Bromley Cross to deal with the increasing level of youth anti-social behaviour.

I welcome Mr Crausby's interest, which I believe is genuine to assist the area, but I do not accept that the proposition is the appropriate measure. Short-term results may occur, but residents are looking for permanent improvements.

Another of our local politicians, Cllr Alan Wilkinson, was quoted in The Bolton News on September 26 saying that councillors would meet with police later this week to discuss future strategies. If this is so, what are the expected benefits for residents of Bromley Cross? Are we to assume one weekend of police presence, plus mounted patrols, secures the future? I doubt it very much.

I have every sympathy with the views recently expressed in The Bolton News by a Turton Road resident that he was no longer proud to be a Boltonian.

The Labour Party promised the electorate more officers, which has proved to be pure spin, for which the Labour Party excels.

Under no circumstances are community support officers the right substitute for trained and empowered police officers.

Either we should have a higher police presence, or Labour should come clean and admit it has reneged on its promises on community police levels.

I am, like most residents in Bromley Cross, including many young people, very sad at the attack on John Graham. We all wish him a quick and complete recovery.

I have no doubts that, had more police officers been regularly on beat patrol in the Bromley Cross community, Mr Graham's incident would not have happened, along with many other events.

The establishment is always quick to state that funds are in short supply to meet changes the public want.

I do not accept this view - bad management is the main reason. A massive waste of taxpayers' money has been the hallmark of the current Government.

Mr Pike, Bromley Cross