I AM sure many older readers remember when each town had its own chief constable and the county police had a retired army colonel in charge of operations.

In those days, the best qualification for a constable was to have served seven years in the Army, preferably in the Guards, so that you got men six feet tall, superbly fit and well able to handle any of the hard men of the area.

The police in Blackburn had only one car and all areas were covered on foot or by cycle. Yet, all commercial yards and shops were checked when closed and, on the hour, you knew that the policeman would be at a police phone point to report back. Any person appearing before the court had to be clean and tidy and the present standard wear of stained T-shirt, torn jeans and dirty trainers would have had you returned to the cells.

Why is it that all people in prison are now referred to as inmates? In my youth an inmate was someone in an asylum or in the workhouse. Anyone in jail was a convict or a prisoner, and why do we not still have degrees of punishment such as hard labour and penal servitude?

It is reported that 60 per cent of convicts re-offend, so the time in prison must be far too easy. The percentage of re-offenders of persons who have served time in a military prison is only five per cent. Obviously, the right people are in charge there.

J UTTLEY, Bolton Road,

Blackburn.