WHEN a town centre starts to go downhill no one specific problem is to blame.

Point to high business rates, empty shops and costly car-parking and you’re close to the mark. But, there are other, social problems to be tackled and Sergeant Peter Crowe – the new police officer in charge of operations in Bolton town centre – sounds like he understands the job in hand.

He sees dealing with drugs as pivotal in dealing with aggressive begging and a way of identifying and helping the vulnerable. He sees a PSPO (a Public Space Protection Order) as helpful in this and that working with the council and health services is vital.

He implies that public expectation of the police role needs to be more realistic today, along with continued public co-operation and support. In other words, neither he nor the police generally can fix everything. And they certainly can’t do it alone.