WITH reference to Joining Forces (The Press, December 11), I predicted that police forces in Yorkshire would amalgamate to become probably the second largest police force after the London Metropolitan Police.
Previous to 1829, when the new police was established by Sir Robert Peel, cities and towns were growing at an alarming rate. London gave birth to Greater London, first established with only four divisions, with the exception of the one square mile known as the City of London, and now is responsible for 24 divisions and one Thames division.
Outside London, large industrial towns in those early years such as Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool with a population of 250,000 with only 50 nightwatchmen, were unable to cope with crime rates, as a consequence provincial forces were established from 1856.
Notwithstanding present financial constraints, a county the size of Yorkshire may benefit in uniformity of purpose and in financial terms, with bulk-buying of equipment and being able to call on additional police numbers, without cross-border political interference.
Eventually we could have a national police force in all but name.
Mr Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.
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