DORSET Police assistant chief constable Mr A J Whiting, (Different views of police work' (Echo, May 9) has completely ignored Mr Mike Joslin's comments regarding the need for bobbies on the beat'. (Echo, April 29 2008).

Helicopters and CCTV cameras are all very well and often invaluable but they are not proactive, particularly in the case of hooded vandals and violent yobs.

The old adage prevention is better than cure' should be the priority, i.e. Bobbies on the beat, 24 hours a day'.

An arrest of some lout or louts after breaking innocent victim's heads is no consolation, whatever the sentences may be, more often than not a useless slap on the wrist' by politically correct magistrates or judges.

M A Carrigan, Commercial Road, Weymouth