It was with mixed feelings that I saw the reactions to the police officers using their riot shields as sleds for a brief foray onto the pistes at Boars Hill (Oxford Mail, January 13) and also noted again with mixed emotions the reaction of their supervisory officer.

It could of course be argued that this display of high spirits not only indicates morale is pretty high within the force but in some ways helped to win the hearts and minds of those youngsters who were present.

It is probably something they will remember all their lives and hopefully may keep the custodians of the law in a good light with them.

One has almost to sympathise with their commander, who appeared to be between a rock and a hard place. Wasting police time or community policing?

Perhaps in retrospect the officers may consider such activities are better performed with a tray from the police canteen, (do they have them now) at 3 am in the morning away from the attendant publicity.

Chris Payne, Caversfield