I READ with much amusement the attack the ex High Sheriff made on me in last week's Review. With your kind permission I should like to respond to some of the many points he makes.
He makes much of witnessing the Gloucester Constabulary at work. I would have thought he had been round long enough to know that what happens every day and what happens when the 'brass' are sniffing round are two different things – but perhaps as a member of the 'brass' he wouldn't.
Three PCSOs – I thought they 'worked' in twos – taking 10 hours each to deal with a broken window and a couple of drunken females doesn't seem very productive. I hope they did something else. In the old days the females would have been locked in a police cell until they sobered up – quick, cheap and effective. I don't think there are even any cells at all at the new Lydney nick.
The matter of crime figures is another point of difference. To start with it is generally agreed that the number of reported crimes is up to 80 per cent below the true figure. Only this week Mark Harper MP is quoting official figures which state that the recorded violent crime in Gloucester more than doubled between 1998 and 2008. Sheriff Thornton thinks it has gone down. I know who I believe.
Mr Thornton then paints a pretty picture of Sedbury. It so happens I have personal knowledge of this. A few years ago a gang of teenage yobs were creating havoc and for some reason decided to concentrate their efforts on the Catholic church in Grahamstown Road. Numerous large double glazed window panels were smashed and these cost over £20 each to replace.
One only has to look at the church to see how many there were, remembering some were broken two or three times.
The police eventually produced one of the high-tec gadgets Mr Thornton likes so much. This was a 'mosquito' which emits a high pitched noise which hurts sensitive teenage ears. The thing was vandalised twice before it
finally disappeared altogether.
In order to stop their church being totally wrecked they had to pay about £20,000 for a security fence all round the property. This money was intended to be spent on charitable work.
Finally our Sheriff turns his attention to my shopping habits. It sounds to me as if he disapproves of disabled parking spaces and perhaps he is one of those selfish people who illegally use them. I assure him I have never yet met any blue badge holder who would not gladly surrender it if only one's health and mobility could be restored.
I repeat my claim that the Gloucester police is expensive and poor value for money. This is not the fault of the officers on the beat who I believe actually spend more than 80 per cent of their time filling forms. I'm sure they would prefer to do the job they signed up for.
Save money by cutting paperwork; sacking the PCSOs (or training them up to be proper cops); slash the excessive salaries and gold-plated inflation proof pensions of Dr. Brain and his sidekick (by the way, what is he a doctor of? – I wouldn't fancy having to cough for him) and spend the savings on real policing. – B.C. Baker, Lydney.
PS: How about our public spirited e-Sheriff signing on and doing the work of a special constable?