APPARENTLY, the Metropolitan Police intend to recruit 'minor' criminal offenders, such as shoplifters, vandals, those convicted of drunkenness and (wait for it) car thieves.

Leaving aside the question of whether a convicted car thief is a suitable person to be a police officer, let's not forget that, a couple of years ago, the police service was calling for tighter regulation of the private security industry to, and I quote, "prevent convicted criminals from working as Security Guards".

Are the Metropolitan Police seriously saying that a convicted criminal can't be a security officer, but can be a police officer?

Mr T.R. Miles

Teak Street,

Bury