Letter: Come on now, gents, you know that wasn't a fair cop

COULD it be that by asking the police to concentrate on clearing up crimes, we are distracting their attention from prevention? Bobbies on the beat and advice on security bolts are not enough: we need a long-term improvement in civil morale.

Of all agencies, education offers the most hope of this. It is to be hoped that the Government will recognise that it is cheaper (if this has to be our criterion) to help teachers to encourage young people to be law-abiding rather than, for example, waiting for them to break the law, and funding the police to pursue them in fast cars.

J P A Race

Abingdon, Berkshire