BRITAIN'S police are under severe strain dealing with issues like terrorism, floods, foot-and-mouth, etc, in addition to the high levels of crime.

Try to phone Winchester police station any evening to report a crime such as a mugging or burglary and you're diverted to Andover or Southamp-ton. The chances of getting a police officer to attend are very slim. So it came as a surprise to be stopped by two officers in Winchester city centre.

I drove into the precinct (as permitted after 6pm) and turned right into Middle Brook Street to make my way via Silver Hill and St George's Street out of town.

I was asked to produce my licence. It transpired that cars are not allowed to enter that area. I was cautioned and then watched several other vehicles proceed unchallenged. I asked why I had been singled out and was told that we can't stop everyone.' The following day I contacted the inspector at North Walls to ask why I should have to pay a £30 fine when at least 20 other vehicles had passed unchallenged. I was told that it's the same problem as trying to catch all the speeding motorists on a motorway.

I've since checked the signs and the one at the bottom of the precinct points you straight up the High Street. The one at the junction with Middle Brook Street is badly positioned so that you can't easily see it as you turn right. How many other people have been caught out?

The fixed penalty notice says the offence took place in the High Street. Wrong! Does that invalidate it? The inspector said I'd be ill advised to take the matter to court but I can't help wondering whether this example is the best deployment of slender police resources.

IAN HENDERSON, Winchester.