DEGREES in policing, what a totally stupid idea.

Are recruits to be vetted and have a medical before or after the degree?

A lot of today’s policing problems are due to so many high rankers having degrees.

I was too young for National Service.

Thirteen weeks of police training at Eynsham Hall was tough, razor sharp creases in trousers meant ironing every day, spit-shined boots took up three-quarters-of-an-hour.

The food was rough, the Home Office paid 1/9 per day for police recruits and 2 shillings-a-day for people in prison. Even Kojak would have been told to get a haircut.

We had two choices, take it or leave it.

No human rights when the drill sergeant shouted at you.

Up early to make our beds and box the blankets.

Then having to brush off all the fluff. It was a tough 13 weeks but I’d love to do it all over again.

Thirty-six-hour leave at weekends messed up your courting.

But in those days everybody had a backbone.

R.W. TUCKER, Kingsway Drive, Kidlington