I WOULD like to respond to the letter from Michael Dunn (Stepping up war on the motorist, January 1).

Wyre Forest is a great place to live and work and crime rates are well below the national average. We have a better detection rate in comparison to similar forces and our detection rate for violent offences is over 63 per cent.

We follow a targeted and partnership approach to policing and by doing this achieved a reduction of 30 per cent in reports of disorder during the autumn. We are not complacent and will continue to strive to improve our performance and service to our community.

It is true to say that West Mercia Police have received increases well above inflation from Council Tax payers over the last couple of years.

This was at the request of the Police Authority and after they conducted a consultation exercise. West Mercia Police remain one of the lowest funded police forces in the country with funding raised locally not being matched by central government. In other words the public pay less per person for their police officers than in almost all other parts of England and Wales.

Speeding is a contentious issue and widely misunderstood. I am sure those families that have been tragically touched by a road traffic collision where speed was the culprit would not agree with the comments made in the press about speed.

It is recognised that speed is a contributory factor in collisions and we are unashamed that offenders are prosecuted. At 35 mph a driver is twice as likely to kill someone as they are at 30 mph (ROSPA 2001).

There are also misconceptions about money gained from speeding cameras. In West Mercia, the Camera Safety Partnership, which is made up of a number of agencies, can reinvest receipts from their cameras in further traffic safety projects only.

Everyone has responsibilities to tackle the scourge of crime. This can be achieved in many ways such as by taking simple crime prevention steps to coming forward with information. The police cannot do it alone.

P CROWLEY

Wyre Forest district inspector

Kidderminster Police Station