IAN Bell, project manager for the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety (Letters, August 1), says it is very rare for people to get hurt or killed through violent crime and we should have our police doing more on the roads to prevent accidents.

I agree we have some mindless idiots on the roads, but he is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

His partnership is catching most people speeding between 35 and 40mph in 30mph zones and with fines of £60 a time. These are very rich pickings for the partnership and the Government.

'Real' crime -- burglaries, car theft, and muggings -- is getting out of control because our police are not out there on the streets. I am not "lambasting our county's constabulary," but I am saying it could be better managed.

I suggest Mr Bell reads the Lancashire Evening Telegraph instead of writing to it trying to convince the public about his scheme and sees the amount of local burglaries, pensioners being mugged and cars being broken into.

How would he feel if his family was affected by any of these crimes then, like myself, be told nothing can be done because of lack of police resources?

Sorry, Mr Bell, I have my opinion on where I would like my police force used and I am sure the vast majority of the public will agree with me.

But, as I remarked previously, policing 'real crime' is not profitable for yourself, or the Government and, therefore, will never be a priority.

P WHITTAKER (Mr), Quebec Road, Blackburn.