SO there were 102 counts of criminal damage committed in Heworth ward for the three months covering January to March this year (Spotlight on crime hotspots, The Press, April 21).

Victims of these crimes, ie those in receipt of damage to their vehicles and property, are required to report such incidents to the police, to enable insurance claims to proceed.

This being the case, it would have been a relatively simple task to collate figures involved. Also, the number of arrests made in connection with these offences, and the current situation regarding prosecutions, would have made research more meaningful. Therefore, to say that a detailed breakdown was received is somewhat of a paradox.

And while we're on the subject, what about statistics for the lawbreaking activities within this ward? Don't tell me there were no incidents of drug dealing, GBH, stone throwing, domestic violence, general loutish behaviour and public order offences? Not to mention, of course, riding cycles on the footpath, which seems to have become more popular than skiing in the Alps.

If the powers that be are going to undertake such research projects, then they should produce a full and comprehensive report giving as much information on the overall situation as possible.

What we have been told smacks of a public relations exercise to me, "give the people what they want to see" while, at the same time, a few "brownie points" can be gained by the city council and other agencies.

J H Roy, Hadrian Avenue, York.