It is astonishing how often our police force goes back to basics.

Practices that have been abandoned have suddenly come back into fashion.

Years ago, if you reported a crime, you could expect police on your doorstep. Yet, nowadays, you are very lucky if you get a response at all.

According to latest figures, four out of 10 crimes in Oxfordshire were not attended by officers. The reason often given is a lack of resources. That may be true occasionally, but surely it can't be the case all the time?

We have the largest number of police we have ever had in Thames Valley, and we are constantly told that the emphasis is to have officers on the beat, not sitting behind desks.

Many new initiatives, such as the new BlackBerrys, are aimed at cutting bureaucracy and keeping police on the streets longer.

An experiment in south Oxfordshire, to respond to every call when asked, has resulted in police attendance at 80 per cent of crimes - a massive improvement.

To the layman, it seems obvious that with a prompt response to a crime, there is a better chance of securing evidence.

It also reassures the public that the police are there to protect them.

Taxpayers pay highly for their police - and deserve the highest quality service.

If that means turning the clock back to the good practices of old, so be it.