WITH reference to the item “Robocop’s way with street beggar” (The Press, December 11), it was just a drop in the ocean, some may say, when the former police chief Ray Mallon took a beggar to task in York.

However, to adopt a zero-tolerance approach is the primary object of becoming an efficient police officer. During ones career, compassion and understanding are part of police training.

But the rule of law should apply. If not nipped in the bud, from little acorns grow an empire of criminal behaviour, controlled by others for their own gain.

During my police service, I witnessed and served under officers in command who were not influenced by political correctness, but whose sole aim was to bring offenders to justice.

This earned them the respect of their subordinates who placed themselves first in the line of fine (so to speak) when dealing with any incidents that arose.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.