I endorse your article Police need to Regain Respect in yesterday’s Oxford Mail.

I hasten to add that respect has to be earned: it is not a free gift.

My dealings with Thames Valley Police have left me with much to be desired from them.

As regards the article, one point needs to be considered. Just look at your piece Scales of Justice to see that motorists, litter droppers or people who do not pay TV licences receive much stiffer sentencing than some people who assault others or drug dealers.

This is a good enough reason for disrespect, without the 20-minute delay for a 999 call response – and that is if they bother to respond at all.

My answer is to bring back the local respected copper on his bike who knows the local area and villains.

At the moment the police are a waste of my council tax contribution for their useless service.

David Dobson, Wittenham Close, Wallingford