WITH the advent of cutbacks in our armed forces and police service, not withstanding the NHS and other public services, might I suggest that government mandarins within the financial sector take a leaf out of Sir Robert Peel’s vision when selecting the first 1,000 new police recruits.

The first two police commissioners had vast experience having served under the Duke of Wellington during his campaign’s throughout Europe, and having returned found this country almost under martial law and a breakdown in law and order within our own country in 1829.

These new recruits were already versed in uniformity, discipline, integrity and courage to face hostile situations, which was sorely needed, without the intervention of political correctness and interference from outside bodies.

After the Second World War a majority of police recruits appointed came from ex-servicemen and women without resorting to university-level student intake, many of whom nowadays seem to lack, through no fault of their own, dealing with civilian policing issues at the pointed end, without resorting to pen and paper.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.