YOU state that “nearly 69 per cent of all offences are still failing to result in any charges” (September 26). Wrong. This figure refers merely to recorded crimes. Firstly, by no means all reported ones are recorded and secondly, the public does not inform the police of all transgressions, even serious ones, for a whole variety of reasons, one of which is precisely the fear of being treated with apathy, contempt or downright hostility.

I suggest, therefore, that the failure rate is in fact much higher.

DAVID DIMENT Riverside Court Oxford