REGARDING the revamp of police cells costing £400,000 under codes of practice, one can't help thinking of political correctness (April 15).

What about codes of practice for the victims; the aged and infirmed, what about their rights and support needs? They do not cause disruption to our daily lives.

As for the rising crime rate and public disorder, a proportion of blame rests with parents, sentenc-ing of the criminals and the lack of beat policemen living in their area with local knowledge as their main weapon.

Let's get back to basics and, as a community, face up to our responsibilities, otherwise crime and disorder will increase.

The liberal minded could visit the Castle Museum and inspect the cells of yesteryear, i.e. debtors' prison and the condemned cell, where straw (if you were lucky) supplied meagre comfort and bread and water was the norm.

Kenneth Bowker,

Vesper Walk,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, April 20, 2005