HAVING had the privilege of serving in the Metropolitan Police in London, and with the recent atrocities carried out by a fanatic, it is a time to reflect and be conversant with the high standards of training a probationary intake has to digest, especially at 19-years-old.

From the early beginnings of pounding the beat, you become aware that the role when dealing with the public must entail a little bit of the following attributes: lawyer, teacher, sociologist, security expert, diplomat, traffic engineer. Above all, you must be compassionate, discreet and decisive.

The basic principle of an efficient police force is a regular contact with the public, so they can attend to areas of concern in times of need.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York