IN REPLY to 'Town hopes for cameras', Page 12, Hereford Times, February 3:

READ HERE: Why police want CCTV cameras in this part of Herefordshire

I was surprised to read that PC Peter Browne said that there only two police officers in Bromyard town.

I joined the Herefordshire Constabulary in 1956 after 13 weeks training and I was posted to Bromyard early in 1957.

At that time the Sergeant’s House police station, court room and cells were all in Church Street.

There were no radios or police vehicles.

The sergeant had a mileage allowance for the use of his car on police matters.

There were four to five constables in the town in digs or

private property.

Bromyard had a cinema, livestock market and about 11

public houses.

With no bypass, the traffic had to use the narrow streets. The area was covered by constables in police houses at Bringsty, Cradley, Bishops Frome, Burley Gate and Bredenbury, all of them on cycles or foot.

When hop picking was in full swing single officers from the force were posted to Burley Gate and Bishops Frome to live-in with and assist these officers.

In about 1958 four police houses were built at Kikham Gardens, Bromyard (now sold off).

CID officers from Leominster were on call and senior officers from Leominster and Ledbury would make some visits.

Petrol was about 25p a gallon!

PETER HOLMAN

Hereford

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