Dear Editor,

Scanning a national daily, I was surprised to see that a Sgt. Zoe Wakefield, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, was advocating that police on the night shift, should be allowed to take naps. I checked the date; it was not April 1st. She goes on to say how working the night shift can reduce the police’s effectiveness. Having worked night shifts myself, I know it can be difficult to adapt. But if it’s so bad, you get another job. I wonder what doctors and nurses, and the thousands of other night shift workers think of the poor suffering police. She goes on to talk about how it will take extra resources. Ah, resources, the police are always on about lack of resources, and to a point, they are right. But rather than making the most of what they have got, they tend to ‘go through the motions’ to make a point.

She also talks about the need for a brave Chief Constable to push the idea through. No, it will need a daft Chief Constable, which probably means there is a pilot scheme being planned.

Wouldn’t it be great, if a spokesman for the police, actually said, we need more foot patrols to prevent crime, and when crime happens, we should bring the criminals to justice. How ‘old fashioned’ is that. Like all public services the police seem more interested in their staff’s work/life balance.

David White

Basingstoke

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