Sir.-I see by Cyril Mullett's Village News column that we are having our beat officer back in Old Basing.

His beat covers Old Basing, Chineham (where they previously had two or three beat officers), Newnham and Lychpit.

I recall, years ago, our then beat officer, Pc Harwood, had to cover many villages. As crime was reported he sped on his bike between villages and, one day, when a woman was attacked locally, the ratepayers association, of which I was secretary at the time, asked for better cover.

An office was opened in Belle Vue Road, with a Sgt "Rocky" Coverdale in charge. He had beat officers from other villages come to him and any crime among youngsters was solved with a Sunday surgery, with mothers and fathers present.

Special constables, of which Basingstoke had nearly 50 at one time, used to patrol villages. Police presence was always on view, with two helping at weekends here in Old Basing.

Then came low crime, low cover. The office was closed and would have gone forever except that, with a little thought, it was decided to let the beat officer use it.

We have had some good beat officers but always on long loan to Basingstoke.

So we welcome back Pc Niblock. When I first served with him many years ago, he was an outstanding policeman and I'm sure he will cope with all these villages.

But if people moan because they don't see him, remember the ground he has to cover.

-Mrs D Loveridge, The Street, Old Basing.

Sir.-Regarding the letter from Cliff Mogg in last Friday's Gazette.

How I, and no doubt many more people, will agree with his comments, since the retirement five or six years ago of our community policeman, Pc Mick Hatton.

We would see him on his cycle around Winklebury and he would speak to us and deal with any complaint or query you had, at any time of day.

I, like many others, have not seen his replacement. Apparently we do have one.

To Superintendent Netherton, I say: "Come and have a look around. See if you can 'spot any policemen'. Have you, I wonder, given them those yellow cards, followed by a red one, and now sent them off?"

We should be like Mr North, of Bradford, and deduct the cost of policing from our council tax. Then again, like poor Mr North, we too may be sent to prison - but the people who burgled his home five times are still free.

-I Cranham, address supplied.