Please allow me a few column inches to express this viewpoint.

The recent publication in a Police newsletter that there is a lack of security at the Premier's residence shows (one) that the Police force has completely lost its way.

After hearing about this story, I did not know whether I should laugh, or feel a sense of sadness.

It is my honest belief that the Police officer(s) responsible for this matter being brought to the public's attention should be disciplined.

Furthermore it is more than amusing that the Police are wondering how this matter came to the public's attention via the press. It is frightening to think that there is someone in authority (an Inspector is the Chairman of the Police Association) who believes that information circulated via a newsletter to the 400 plus members of the police force is confidential.

In any event, doesn't anyone at Police Headquarters understand what a newsletter is? The hard facts are that if security is slack at the Premier's residence, the person or person responsible for informing the public, has jeopardised the safety of the Premier if there is existing potential of harm to her.

If there are no security factors at the Premier's residence which point to a lack of safety of the Premier, then the Police are using scare tactics to achieve some irrelevant collateral purpose.

In either case, there is no justifiable reason for publishing this type of information. The Commissioner designate as his first official act, could arrest the slide in discipline in the service by disciplining whoever is responsible for recklessly publishing this story.

In some jurisdictions the publication of such a story by persons in authority would be considered a criminal offence. Surely, this must be one of the biggest security jokes of all time. Alternatively, it may just be incurable ignorance.

ANTHONY (ZACKY) EDWARDS Pembroke