JACK Straw's new initiative at recruiting modern day policemen of the highest quality and expertise would be commendable were it not for several well-known facts.

Criminals are better respected than the police; the police can be sued for doing what was once their job; police forums only exaserbate the frustration of the public -- talk means

nothing; the police have to pick up the pieces after accidents and riots; criminals have better backing than the police!

What we need are bulldogs with teeth, no-tolerance and a positive "yes, we'll deal with the situation", not "what do you expect us to do aboutit?"

Anything which causes upset and disharmony in whatever community should be dealt with by the police and not fobbed off as the responsibility of the council. Come on Jack, give our police the tools and the freedom to do the job!

Mr T Williams-Berry