PETER Johnston's letter headed, "Policing town's prostitutes is not a priority" (March 26), gives the impression that we in The Haulgh expect the police to spend all of their discretionary policing hours chasing round in search of prostitutes, to the detriment of the rest of Bolton.

This could not be further from the truth.

We have a community beat manager and a PCSO who we certainly expect to be with us for most of their working time as they are detailed to do so.

We will, in the near future be meeting with them to agree the community policing priorities.

The agenda will include zero tolerance of on-street prostitution in The Haulgh, but this will be alongside many other elements which we see as vital towards our goal of effective neighbourhood management.

In addition, we will define a very substantial information reporting network to act as their eyes and ears right across the area.

On a wider basis, we have joined with other neighbourhoods via the current petition that is with the council to demand zero tolerance across the town.

This may not be a popular idea with certain factions, but what better reference can we quote as support but to say Ipswich is currently developing a zero tolerance approach. We just want the same for Bolton.

Walter Scott, Bromwich Street, Bolton