THE statement from a Wiltshire police spokesman defending the use of the police helicopter regardless of the alleged offence committed, raises the question "what management controls are actually in place?"

In Swindon, local commanders have reduced traffic management to a joke attempting to justify the savings on wardens' salaries by claiming the resource would be better used in fighting core crime.

The helicopter costs approximately £750 every time it is called into use the EA article indicated a shoplifter had stolen a DVD player with a value of £100.

I wonder if, upon conviction, the offender will be required to compensate not only the store from where the DVD was stolen, but also the actual cost of the legal process, including the helicopter search time. Of course, the answer is that the cost will be borne by the patient taxpaying majority of law abiding citizens.

The cost of leasing and running the helicopter amounts to a good slice of the police budget perhaps if there were more officers patrolling, the opportunist thief would think twice before stealing.

On a wider issue, perhaps the police would prefer that shoplifting be decriminalised and treated as a civil offence. After all, in the scheme of criminal activity it doesn't rank as highly as mugging, burglary or assault.

Shops already employ security staff and store detectives, why not leave it to them to initiate proceedings at their expense rather than at public cost.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive, Swindon