SIR – The decision for a proposed national police force for Scotland should give our Government cause to review the state of our own outdated and fractured police structure.

The recent disclosure in the press of the failure of five police officers to enter a travellers site to search a vehicle suspected of containing stolen items and despite being given a huge amount public information and assistance highlights the increased decline in law enforcement.

It now appears that some chief constables in their ‘patches’ can use political correctness and health and safety to avoid a confrontation with, in this case, travellers and, in other cases, minority/ethnic groups.

What this country needs is a national police service which will be capable of enforcing laws with equal rigour throughout the entire country without the interference of politically-correct chief constables.

It would also improve our ability to tackle increasing nationally-organised crime and a constant terrorist threat. The saving in the procurement of equipment and administration could be used to but more officers in the public domain.

A national police force has a fair chance of being rolled out in Scotland, but it is very doubtful if it could succeed in England.

John Fisher, Mount Bark Farm, Menwith Hill, Harrogate