I have some sympathy with the point he makes.

That said, a significant amount of the cost of policing football matches is borne by the clubs, not just the taxpayer.

Policing large events is always a judgement call. And you are generally damned if you do and damned if you don't.

We use a combination of factors to plan for big matches, including intelligence on troublemakers and previous experience.

Thankfully, the violence associated with football matches has declined in recent years, but there are still examples where things go wrong.

Crowd safety – as well as the safety of the general public in Peterborough – is always our top priority.

I'm sure many other people will have been pleased to know that their Saturday shopping trip was not put at risk because the game, and the fans were well policed.

Either way, after each event like this, we debrief and review what resources were used, for the next time, and I'll take your comments into account.

Overall, I am pleased to say it was a successful event ,with just seven arrests made on this occasion.
Chief Superintendent
Paul Phillipson
Divisional commander,
northern division

How much more will taxpayer lose?
what a fantastic country we live in.
the government lets every tom, dick and harry live here from all over the world, tells us it's for our own good, then taxes us for the privilege.
Councils tax us for nothing (council tax), and now the credit crunch has revealed another fiddle.

it astounds me that councils have been investing our council tax money abroad to avoid taxes from our own government, seemingly with the treasury's advice.

now they say we will have to pay more council tax to recoup our own money.

when will it end?

eventually the citizens of this country will give up.

Thanks for letting me have my say.

NiGEL HOLLIS
by e-mail