WITH reference to the story 'Police boss pledge on community bobbies' (LET, October 13).

How is Chief Superintendent Mallaby able to make such a pledge? The fact is that nothing definite has yet been decided and in any event any officer of his rank will know he has very little influence on what his superiors and this Government do.

He might be moved to another position in the proposed expanded force. What value should be given to his pledges in that event?

I suspect Mr Mallaby can remember the 1969 amalgamations of borough police forces into a greater Lancashire Constabulary of some 5,000 officers.

He will also remember carve-up of that force by hiving off the good rate-paying areas to Manchester and Liverpool. This was done under the decision that the greater Lancashire force, which had come into existence only five years previously, was then too big and unmanageable.

If this proposed amalgamation comes about, the losers will be the people of Lancashire and Cumbria who will be given second rate policing (even below that which is the norm today). This policing will be by way of PCSOs who will be granted more powers than their training should allow.

Make no mistake, this proposal is nothing to do with terrorism or organised crime but is a way of chipping away at the cost of policing at base level.

The time is fast coming when police officers as the public generally perceive them to be, will no longer appear on our streets. It's downhill all the way if these proposed changes go ahead and of course it will cost us all more.

ANTONY HAWORTH, Pendleside Close, Sabden, Clitheroe.