I READ the several letters in these columns last week, with regard to the level of crime, ie burglaries, car crime etc in this area, and although all of your contributors have a right to their views, as to the cause, in reading the letters I noted that John Broom criticised the Chief Constable Charles Pollard, and said that he didn't deserve his knighthood (which I will return to later) and Margaret Goodyer from Beaconsfield blamed the Labour Government.

If you consider the subjects of car crime and muggings, and burglaries, first of all we should consider who carries these crimes out?

It is the youngsters of this area, and we should ask who is or should be responsible for them.

The answer is obvious their parents. No blame levelled at them in these columns last week.

Surely parents ought to know what their children are doing, or should ask them where they have been when they come in.

If these youngsters are out late at night stealing cars, or doing burglaries, don't their parents express surprise if their young son keeps coming home in the early hours?

Don't they ask where they are getting the money that they must have from their ill-gotten gains?

Most of them that do these petty crimes most probably haven't got a job.

Why don't they ask them a few questions, instead of sticking their heads in the sand?

If you ask any parent about their sons' or daughters' activities, even if they are just being a nuisance to neighbours in your street, all you get is a defence of their children "it wasn't my son. He has been in all night, even when you have seen him."

My experience of many parents, is that they are quite happy to kick their kids out in the street, up to all hours rather than have them in the house, being a nuisance to them in the house.

We have had years of it, although it is better during the dark winter cold nights. Nearly all parents will always defend their own children, whether they are right or wrong.

Even the Krays brothers' mum, said once: "They are lovely boys."

So when we are criticising the police for their lack of action, and I have been known to do it a few times, when I have telephoned them and they cannot come out, let's think about where it all starts from. In the home.

With regards to Charles Pollard our Chief Constable who was criticised by John Broom.

I had the pleasure of serving with Sir Charles when I was a member of the Thames Valley Police Authority, and more closely when he headed up the police complaints committee (of which I was a member for four years), when Charles was deputy chief constable.

A better copper it would be hard to find.

All the police including our local officers, at all levels, have an impossible job to do. Let us not put all the blame on them.

Jim Tanner

Terryfield Road, High Wycombe