I REFER to news item ‘Police Stations Shutting Doors’ (Daily Echo, February 17).

I write as a policeman who retired in 1974, having served 27 years in Dorset, including that as village policeman at Corfe Castle from 1953/56.

It is tragic how, in these days, policemen are increasingly losing contact with the public.

In my times I was available 24/7, like the doctor, baker, etc, to be seen daily in the village square, in touch with everyone, part of village life.

I was quickly told of anything which happened outside the normal routine.

In these days of speeding police cars with sirens and blue lights that have not got time to stop, local knowledge and contact with the public is lost.

It is all in this mad desire to cut back and close down everything in general – except of course, parliamentarians.

RAY SANSOM

Poole