‘Police have become society’s clean-up squad’

• I’VE never been a great fan of the police and it is welcome progress that we are now able to be critical of them, unlike in the bad old days when politicians and press maintained a solid attitude that they could do no wrong.

Recently, though, I have found myself defending them because it seems to me they have become society’s clean-up squad.

In the austerity years their numbers have been radically reduced at the same time as other essential services – mental health and care of the elderly and homeless – have been squeezed.

The reason nobody comes to investigate your bike being nicked or your house being burgled is that too many cops have to spend much time picking up the pieces of lost services.

HW SMITH, N19