How long will it stay in place?

I READ with much interest your article on pages one and seven (July 21) re the action being taken by the police to cut crime on Mead Vale and also to stop the instances of drunken behaviour in our town parks.Let us deal with the Mead Vale solution first. Will this be the police's answer to "more police on the beat", send in a Mosquito? How long do you really think it will stay in place? With no police around it will probably last a matter of days. Not to worry then, it's cheaper than a police officer.Secondly, you went to great lengths, as did Star Radio, stating that a blitz had taken place in our parks to remove the dross. But no mention anywhere else in the paper of the results of this blitz. May I therefore inform the interested people of the town the result? Remember this was to deal with drunken behaviour:One 17-year-old cautioned for possession of a blade, no mention of an alcohol offence or charge.One 17-year-old bailed for possession of cannabis, no mention of an alcohol offence or charge.Two 24-year-old men cautioned for assault, no mention of an alcohol offence or change.Two 16-year-old youths charged with possession of cannabis and bailed.And last, a 16-year-old youth given a fixed penalty notice for drunk and disorderly behaviour. This is tantamount to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, if that.While I fully support the police's actions, let's not get carried away. I believe, if my source is correct, all of these people were back out on the streets of our lovely town by Monday. What a joke.The police will not start to make inroads into this problem until they stop the supply at source ie the supermarkets and shops selling alcohol often manned in the evening by untrained and part-time staff. How hard is it for a checkout person to refuse the person that says that they will be waiting after their shift if they are not served?We also will, as I have said on many occasions before, not achieve a thing until we have a deterrent.NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED