I SEE that Greater Manchester Police are asking for yet another inflation-busting contribution from local residents. May I respectfully suggest that Bury Council refuse any more money unless there is a drastic increase in police activity in the town.

I am aware of the arguments as to why Bury does not get its fair number of police compared with the rest of Greater Manchester.

However, that argument is now wearing rather thin. It is pointless having any police, unless they are actually willing to leave their cosy police stations: we know that they are not at Radcliffe Police Station, as that is virtually never open!

I cannot speak for the rest of Bury, but certainly it would appear that Bolton Road estate in Radcliffe is a no-go area as far as the police are concerned, particularly after dark. We regularly have gangs of up to 30 teenagers roaming around with their drinks in their plastic bags. Presumably these are the ones responsible for all the vandalism, particularly of cars.

In the last month I have had the petrol cap ripped from my car, petrol siphoned-off and a window broken on it. On the same night, I believe at least three other cars had their windows smashed.

The police seem only willing to hand out crime numbers to claim off insurance; they refuse to come out to even take finger prints! In fact, a rather bored-sounding officer recently suggested to me that I invest in CCTV! Well, if I did not have to keep repairing my property and paying for a non-existent police force, I could perhaps afford that!

It seems to me that the police will not come out to deal with teenage thugs or for car crime, unless you are speeding, and even sometimes for burglaries. A few years ago a young man was being assaulted outside my house and they didn't turn out for that either.

It might be interesting to know exactly what crimes the police in Bury will turn out for!

JULIE HIGSON,

Coronation Road, Radcliffe.