I am a resident of Boscombe and have recently seen members of Dorset Police in the precinct area of Boscombe, at the Palmerston Road end.

They have been targeting cyclists who are cycling on the pavement and in the precinct.

While I have seen these officers apprehending cyclists, I have also witnessed open drug dealing there.

Do Dorset Police really have the spare resources in the current climate that they can spare full time police officers to deal with pavement cyclists?

Last year there were two fatalities due to cyclists nationally, and I would not like to guess the true death toll and cost to society from drug use.

I have spoken to the local ward councillors and have been informed that this was not even raised as a community priority.

I would like to hear from any law abiding member of the community in Boscombe that does not feel that drugs are a problem.

We should be promoting safe cycling and encouraging cyclists, not targeting them as criminals – especially with such a fragile environmental climate.

Francis Brooks, Boscombe Grove Road, Boscombe