How I cringed when I read Pauline Carter's letter, Police response was appalling (Oxford Mail, September 19).

Once again, Thames Police shoot themselves in the foot.

But, of course, Mrs Carter, may not have been aware of the new report by email explained by a smiling Chief Supt Liam MacDougal (Oxford Mail, September 18). Police work is about people — those same people who pay increasing council tax to fund Thames Valley Police, people who matter.

It's not about inexperienced civilians, working computers to create empires for senior officers.

Some years ago, their excuse was that most patrol officers lacked experience. Well, they won't gain practical, operational, investigational experience by faceless voices, tapping computer keyboards. They need to meet and speak to people — that's how to learn and widen experience.

In my early days, I cut my coppering teeth by being sent to minor crimes and learning to trace witnesses and suspects. I learned by my mistakes. Today, it is all mistakes.

The Government-run Crown Prosecution Service does not help by not being brave enough to bring prosecutions, but then, on the same page, all is explained.

Lord Bradshaw explains how crime is regularly reported to the police authority at district commander level, plotted on detailed maps, then discussed at meetings. To discuss hotspots and set targets, the Chief Constable then visits all the councils to discuss the plans.

Therein lies the problem — too much talk and too many targets.

Pre-Thames Valley, the police were controlled by watch committees and standing joint committees, made up of local people with local knowledge and an understanding of local needs.

Having read Lord Bradshaw's waffle, he's provided the best case yet to abolish the House of Lords.

Thames Valley has not had a worthwhile chief constable since Peter Imbert left and we are all aware of what's happened since then. So, sorry Mrs Carter, it was all your fault for having your property stolen.

But if it's any consolation, all the statistics will have been logged 100 per cent, together with your race etc., and one day soon, you will get a letter, full of excuses (and spelling errors), to make you feel sorry for even daring to report it.

In future, don't have coffee in the Covered Market. Go to Tesco in Abingdon. You will find three officers drinking coffee, and you can tell them face to face!

ROGER TUCKER Kingsway Drive Kidlington