Yet again I read an ill-informed and unhelpful letter, Police are alienating motorists (Oxford Mail, March 11).

A speed of 38 mph is too fast in a 30mph limit (27 per cent too fast!).

When will people stop complaining when they are caught breaking the law and are prosecuted? After all, isn't that the job the police should be doing?

Road deaths are a 'dreadful' matter and speed is a major contributory factor, along with no seatbelts, mobile phone use and other factors which people regularly moan about being caught doing.

Can I suggest Patrick Power does some research into road deaths, then perhaps his views might change?

He could go to his local police traffic base and ask to see some photographic evidence of the carnage these 'dreadful' crimes wreak and find out the statistics, but I think that may be too much for him to stomach.

Mr Power seems to feel that as the conditions were "dry and bright", it should be up to each motorist to decide how fast they go.

I am sure that those who have lost loved ones at the speed of 38mph are only too pleased to see that the police take this seriously and do not issue 'polite warnings', which would be completely ineffectual.

After all, are we to believe that this was the one and only time that Mr Power's friend has exceeded the speed limit?

Don't even get me started on the 'I pay the police wages' rubbish!

Bill Sykes, Evenlode Drive, Didcot