I JOINED the old Bolton Borough Police Force in 1954. I have often defended the police against criticism, often uninformed, but I am afraid that standards of service are falling fast. The latest example in the Bolton Evening News comes close to rock bottom.
You report that the police are unable to escort 16 three-year-old children across Chorley New Road on their way to a school trip. Chief Inspector Miskell is reported as saying that such cases would "normally go through our events and planning division". What on earth is an events and planning division? In my time the Sergeant would tell the Constable on that beat to be at the desired location at the appointed time and the job would be done. Mind you, in those days we did have Constables on beats.
By the definition of Constable taught to recruits in my day, the first duty of a Constable is the protection of life.
Bob Holden
Laburnum Park
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