THE inexorable decline of policing continues. When did you last see a policeman walking? With the proposed introduction of CCTV cameras in Okehampton (Times, July 28), these devices follow other changes to replace our invisible policemen and include: l Sleeping policemen, instead of real ones who are awake l Traffic calming, to irritate motorists where the police cannot be bothered to ?police? and enforce the law l Community policemen, recently featured in Okehampton Times, pseudo policemen again instead of real ones l Speed cameras, again where the police cannot be bothered, in this case, to enforce the speed limits l Civilian-operated mobile speed cameras concealed in vans, for the same reason as fixed cameras l Civilian mobile patrols not operating on motorways. To be fair to the police all these are because of resources (money) restrictions from central government and I tend to think the police would in fact like to do more policing but are do not have the necessary support from those who claim to want to reduce crime. David Bagshall. Grindhill Okehampton
