Inspector Allum (Opinion, June 22) clearly feels criticism of the police is largely unjustified.

I have served in the police force twice. In my day there were no beggars and drunks were promptly arrested. Illegally parked cars were booked.

As for graffiti, had my superintendent walked around the back streets of this area and seen the sheer scale of the damage he would have gone ballistic and wanted to know why I had allowed my beat to degenerate into such a disgusting mess.

Like three out of four probationer constables in those days, I was required to resign as unsuitable in order to make a good and efficient officer.

If I could be written off as unsuitable despite the fact my beat was kept in order, perhaps Inspector Allum could comment on what that says for the standards of today's police officers.

-Stuart Bower, Hawkhurst Road, Brighton