ACCORDING to the press, an innocent black man was falsely arrested on trumped-up charges. He was accused of assaulting a police officer and damaging his glasses, and this man was then unnecessarily sprayed with CS gas by the officer. He was later found not guilty of all charges.

This unnamed policeman has since resigned. In my view he was at least guilty of using unnecessary force and attempting to pervert the course of justice, yet a Police Complaints Authority spokesman said that the officer was not facing criminal proceedings. Why?

What does one need to do, as a serving officer, before disciplinary action or prosecution is instigated? Is it any wonder that the public have little or no respect for the police.

A. P. TOBIAS