SIR: May I comment on a report in the Bolton Evening News of Saturday, January 25, by Janet Hughes on the visit to Bolton of the Home Office Minister David MacLean.

Mr MacLean stated that we were not short of bobbies, but that they should get to the scene of any reported crime within five minutes, and so did not see the need for boosting the police ranks any further.

What a contradiction!

The fact that we are short of bobbies is the reason why they do not arrive at the scene of a crime within five minutes. Are they supposed to leave the scene of one crime to attend to another, possibly saying to a burglar 'stay there, we will be back later to sort you out'. On the night shift especially, when there are fewer police on duty (I would have thought that more would be needed during the hours of darkness), they could be at one side of town and a crime being committed on the other - they are not supermen, they do not twirl round in a telephone box and then fly at the speed of light to the other side of town.

Greater Manchester may be in the middle of a recruitment drive for 5,000 extra bobbies, but of what calibre? Are they to be full time, properly trained to fully experienced level, or are they to be part-time specials?

H W Marsh,

Sharples, Bolton.

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