TWO stories in this newspaper today highlight the same problem - there are not enough bobbies on the beat.

Some might say there are no police officers patrolling the streets. Certainly spotting them is becoming increasingly difficult.

Tomorrow Liberal Democrat councillors will ask Bolton Council to write to the town's three MPs urging them to lobby the Government for more cash to fund the town's emergency services. And that will include, of course, the police service.

Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bolton Council, has said that people are always complaining to her that there are not as many bobbies on the beat as there used to be.

Readers frequently write to this newspaper with the same complaint.

Our leading Crime Beat story today underlines the same issue. Elderly victims of crime in Bolton have called for more police to patrol areas in an attempt to deter criminals from preying on the most vulnerable members of the community.

It comes as no surprise to learn that a new report has revealed that 84 per cent of elderly men and women who have suffered at the hands of criminals believe that putting more officers on the streets is the most effective way to tackle the problem.

It most definitely is. There is no greater deterrent to criminals and no greater reassurance to householders than to see a uniformed policeman patrolling near their homes.

The long-term effect on elderly people - or anyone for that matter - who has suffered at the hands of criminals can be devastating.

If giving the police more cash means that we get more bobbies on the streets then it will be money well spent.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.