WHEN can we expect to see the extra 20,000 police promised? Not soon enough, according to the amount of crime we read about.

How many outbuildings are burgled, cars damaged or stolen, or properties vandalise din the early hours, when most of us are sleeping? Quite a lot according to what the Daily Echo reports.

Police presence is scant during the waking hours, so I should imagine that any nocturnal patrols must be virtually non-existent. Thoe committing crime must be aware of this, so basically it constitutes an open goal.

If any culprits should be apprehended, can we expect punishment to match any upset and inconvenience caused? No, it will all probably be registered as the result of social deprivation or an alternative limp excuse. And we will continue to keep reading more of the same stuff week in, week out.

BOB WOODLAND

Cavan Crescent, Waterloo Estate, Poole