In response to negative remarks made about PC John Bolton, our erstwhile community policeman (Letters, April 12), we would like to express the following sentiments.

PC Bolton is a dedicated professional with a wry sense of humour - a trait often lacking in these days of zero tolerance and he is a true Christian.

John always had time to listen to youngsters, never talking down to them, they thought of him as a friend not a threat. Elderly people would stop and chat with him and go home feeling safer knowing a police presence was out there to help.

Since he became a crime prevention officer in the city centre, John has instigated a phone network between stores, warning of shop-lifters and troublemakers, creating a safer environment for staff and customers alike.

So what was John's crime? When asked at a meeting, where he thought problem families who had been evicted may be re-housed he replied: "Maybe Hull, there are lots of empty properties there."

He might as well have added Hell or Halifax. It was an off the cuff remark. I would have added: "Who cares as long as they're not next door to me."

I noticed that your correspondent immediately put pen to paper, not to voice his concern about soon-to-be-homeless families, but to warn his friends in Hull that they may soon have undesirable neighbours! Policemen are only human and they have a thankless job to do. One wrongly interpreted remark can cause so much fuss. I say give the police your whole- hearted support, you never know when you may need them.

Ella Hirst and Zoe Hirst,

Coggan Close,

South Bank,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.