IT was reassuring to read that every York ward is to get its own police officer (April 7). Good news for law-abiding citizens, bad news for the criminals.

It's been a long time coming and it is good to see that, at last, we are getting what we pay for.

However, I cannot congratulate BT for their refusal to move phone boxes, allegedly used by drug dealers, because they are too profitable (March 29).

They obviously don't care about the scum who use phone boxes to peddle their filth.

All they care about is fat profits. I am thinking of ending my contract with BT and finding another provider.

I hope more people will do the same.

Colin Henson,

Moorcroft Road,

Woodthorpe, York.

...MONDAY'S Evening Press was very interesting. On page six you carried a report of arsonists targeting a children's playground. On page seven police were hunting burglars and on page nine there was "Police fail to answer call".

Then on page one we find out where all the police were, Bishopthorpe Palace, having their picture taken.

The front page story is a joke. Apparently, we are all going to get a "ward manager" as a policeman or woman.

We all have at least two ward councillors and they are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. So what good will a "ward manager" be?

Chief Insp Harding says their aim "is to gather intelligence... and work to tackle long-term problems".

How is he going to do this if all his officers are based at Clifford Street?

When we have problems on our estate - which we have repeatedly - our calls to the police are either not answered, or answered and we are told there is no one to talk to, or the details are taken and a police officer turns up on his mountain bike an hour and a half later having dealt with three incidents on his way from Fulford Road police station.

I remind Mr Harding that crime is a police matter. It does not involve other agencies.

Security firms do not have the legal power to deal with disturbances, they cannot physically arrest someone. So when a crime is committed, or anti-social behaviour is taking place, what we demand is a bobby on the beat within a few minutes reach to take care of the problem.

Jeremy Banyard,

Bramham Grove,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, April 10, 2003