Roger Dunn, of South Embankment, Dartmouth, writes:

Insp Andy Tomlinson is to be commended for publicly highlighting in the chink in Dartmouth's defences against crime., Police complaint, Chronicle, March 2.

The 24-minute window of opportunity afforded by a police car's journey time from Totnes to Dartmouth gives would-be flashers, shoplifters, pickpockets and burglars ample time to 'get in, grab it and get away with it'.

Unfortunately, this time window will more than double following the imminent start of holiday-season traffic between our two towns.

Furthermore, if we extrapolate Insp Tomlinson's figures, professional criminals, by merely disabling one holiday-season coach between Totnes and Dartmouth, could effect a three-pronged attack on Dartmouth and be assured of at least two hours of uninterrupted criminality.

Our over-stretched police force deserves our help.

Therefore, why don't we citizens of Dartmouth organise – along the lines of the old Home Guard – a volunteer group called, for example, the Dartmouth Defenders?

As front-line back up to our local bobbies, they could patrol the town in three-hour shifts, wear high-visability tunics and red berets and carry old-style police whistles with which to alert and summon up colleagues at the first sign of criminal activity; perhaps even making citizen's arrests.

But better still, their high-visability and continued presence would deter opportunist criminals from perpetrating their crimes in the first place.

They would be able to converse with members of the public on their daily rounds and keep track of prevailing moods and concerns.

In order to gauge public support for this, I suggest citizen's register their interest at any relevant town centre office, as well as through this letters page.

If requested, I could be in attendance in Royal Avenue Gardens on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, wearing a high-visability jacket and carrying a clipboard.

I would be only too pleased to discuss the matter further with members of the general public and perhaps make a log of prospective volunteers.

Remember that simply by being seen, we can deter crime and ensure our safety out there.