HOW lovely to see the police praised for a second week running, for taking a sensible approach to bikers two weeks ago and last week for ensuring the carnival was safe. Whether they re keeping an eye on revellers having fun or trying to catch law-breakers

HOW lovely to see the police praised for a second week running, for taking a sensible approach to bikers two weeks ago and last week for ensuring the carnival was safe. Whether they're keeping an eye on revellers having fun or trying to catch law-breakers, they should be commended for taking a common-sense attitude.

I know when I was young, we used to have the utmost respect for the bobby on his beat and go scrumping in the local orchard in the certain knowledge that if we were caught we'd be boxed round the ears and sent home - and then our parents would probably box us round the ears again. I was never quite sure whether the second punishment was for going scrumping in the first place or being caught.

The police often come in for some stick when they're trying to do their jobs but here in Essex we have some of the best. Of course, their approach to the bikers might just be something to do with the masses of paperwork they have to fill in if they make an arrest, but let's be charitable and assume they felt the situation needed no more than a quiet word.

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