I READ with interest Mike Joslin's contribution to the on-going discussion in relation to policing priorities ('Why public want bobbies on beat', Echo, April 29), particularly so as he raised many new issues that had not been raised by the previous correspondent.

I share completely Mr Joslin's view that policing has profoundly changed over many years. This has been my experience in some 26 years or so of police service in a number of different areas within the UK.

Mr Joslin introduces the subject of air support and I would take issue with his assertion that it achieves nothing in relation to burglaries, robbery, traffic collisions or, indeed, gun crime.

Recently, the aircraft was instrumental in following two individuals, fleeing in a car at high speed, involved in a series of rural burglaries, during which they preyed upon the most vulnerable in local communities.

The crew successfully kept the individuals within sight when units on the ground were entirely incapable of doing so, guiding officers to making two arrests. Both offenders are now in prison.

I would readily agree that it is less likely that the aircraft itself will land and its crew will make the arrest but even this is not unknown.

These arrests, achieved by the aircraft's presence and solely attributable to it, put a stop to a very serious series of rural burglaries.

Of course, Mr Joslin may have overlooked that these are but a part of the duties performed by our aircraft.

When Mr Joslin comments about the cost of a helicopter, he is right to do so. It regularly exercises my attention, when looking to justify its year on year operating costs.

Perhaps he would like to consider the circumstances of a collision at Bridport in the course of which a man lost both his legs. Our aircraft, which is designed specifically to be able to undertake the role of an air ambulance because actual air ambulances are not permitted to fly at night, airlifted him straight to hospital.

The man has subsequently taken the time and trouble to visit the unit to convey his thanks to them and to indicate that the medical opinion was that unless he had been airlifted he would have died.

While we have quite some way to go, we have now emerged as the force rated highest by their local public in terms of overall confidence in the service provided, across the whole of England and Wales.

Does this mean that we should sit back and say that we have achieved everything? Quite clearly not.

Does it suggest that Mr Joslin's views are invalid simply because they are different? Absolutely not. I am grateful to him taking the time to express them.

I am firmly convinced that the concept of serving the public is actually as alive and well in the hearts of police officers and police staff now as it ever has been, even if the demands upon the service have changed beyond all recognition.

A J Whiting, Assistant Chief Constable, Dorset Police.