HAVE the police finally gone from fighting crime to committing crime? It would seem to be that way if you look at The Press article "We're the victims of this crime" (May 26).

Somebody breaks into an innocent person's car to take that person's property, only to find that the police come along and do just the same, but this time under the banner of national Government policy.

A £105 fee to cover the cost of recovery and storage should surely be paid for by the police if they choose to take the vehicle away rather than gathering evidence at the site of the crime.

This could then be claimed back from the criminal when the police bring a successful prosecution.

This is the second time in three weeks that I have heard of people paying the recovery fee, the last being a young work colleague.

His car was taken away against his wishes by the police, kept for a week and released. Upon collection he was told to pay £105 to cover the cost of the recovery that the police had arranged. When challenged the holders of the car simply said: no money, no car.

The police spokesman, Ron Johnson, states: "The money can be claimed back from most insurance companies."

Well, why should anyone have to, and has he never heard of policy excess and no-claims bonus?

Philip E Sunley, Paddock Way, York.