Madam, Vandalism is too common for much comment these days but I stumbled across an example of it last Wednesday. Walking down the pedestrian lane between Cantilupe Road (adjacent to Ursell's Showroom) leading towards Morrison's Filling Station, I saw the usual painted graffiti on the boundary wall. This has been going on for so long it seems that it must be tolerated by the copper on the beat. But on this occasion, immediately beside the defaced wall, I was also faced by a prime example of vandalism in that the four mains gas meter boxes which had been let into the wall, had been smashed open, leaving the meters and main gas taps wide open to tampering.
The bits of the plastic doors were lying on the ground and judging by the rubbish lying about as well it was obvious that this was old damage. It should have been seen and reported by the beat officer, especially because this rather confined little lane is just the sort of place where ne'er-do-wells like to congregate and will inevitably get into mischief unless they are regularly visited by the beat officer and given a metaphorical kick in the pants.
So, what was the other side of the coin ? Quite simply it was your front page publicity about the 'New Look' of Ross Police Station. All the 'great and good' were there and even some coppers in uniform. What a happy time they must have had ! But as for real coppering, it was not even on the back page. What a travesty !
H D Byers