Letters | 25 April 2009

The beat goes on

Sir: I read with growing rage James Delingpole’s column (You know it makes sense, 18 April). After castigating the policing of the G20 demonstrations, he takes the opportunity to list a number of actions the police have taken in recent times that he objects to. But some context is required. I have worked for nearly 20 years in a large metropolitan police force which deals with nearly 2,000 incidents a day on average. We arrest hundreds of people, and respond to thousands of calls for help and assistance. Nearly 4,000 of us do this — regular police officers, special constables (and sorry, James — they do have full police powers and those you accused of not saving a drowning boy were not special constables), community support officers and police staff. I have not beaten anyone senseless with my baton or shot anyone, although I have been seriously assaulted, police vehicles I have been in have been rammed by criminals, petrol bombs have been thrown at the police station I work in and threats have been made on my life.