As a retired police officer, serving the majority of my time in Keighley, I am dismayed at the latest news regarding the situation, as explained in this week’s Keighley News – ‘Policing numbers are safe’ (September 26).

Firstly, the statement from Chief Supt Angela Williams, to the effect that front-line services will not be affected. Well, possibly not, as I very rarely see a ‘front-line officer’ either locally, or whilst passing through Keighley town itself.

Should there be a front-line officer in Keighley, who, heaven forbids, arrests a poor criminal, that poor soul will then (if taken into custody) have to travel all the way to Bradford in a cold, or hot, police van, with hard seats and dark windows, in the company of at least two police officers (or PCSOs).

The two police officers will then be busy at Bradford for some considerable time lodging their customer and possibly having to remain to interview etc.

The front-line police officer(s) then remaining in Keighley will be minus two, so should the same as above occur again, hey, another two (if staffing levels run to such) would have to do the same thing. The figures would read minus four, and so on.

Now, that is only half the problem. You may now experience a police officer in Keighley, who would not be surrounded by numerous other front-line officers, requiring urgent assistance having to deal with some poor, violent drunk, who is incapable of restraining him or herself.

What happens then? Oh dear, no units to send, all at Bradford. Well, I’m sorry Chief Supt Williams, but front-line policing will be affected, and when a police officer gets seriously injured, I do hope the risk assessment complaints department is fully staffed!

Keighley, a forgotten place, no central police station, soon no post office, no cells, no courts.

Brian and Janet Hinchliffe Oxenhope