Mr Austin (Letters, September 3) complains about a police officer being stationed at the Clock Tower.

The area within 50 yards of the Clock Tower has been, quite rightly, designated by the council as Brighton's premier shopping area.

An officer was stationed at the Clock Tower but was removed some three months ago, prior to the busy summer holidays.

I asked an officer why and was told it was due to safety problems caused by the demolition and rebuilding of the Quadrant, meaning the public could walk past that area to the train station but it was too dangerous for an officer to stand there. Hmm.

An officer was originally asked to patrol this "premier" area covering Duke Street, Cranbourne Street and the top of North Street as it was becoming very run down.

There were aggressive beggars at every cash point, unofficial street trading was rapidly increasing and the council's staff were too busy off on taxpayers' free junkets to even care.

An officer lasted three months until June, Mr Austin, and he has not been seen at the Clock Tower since.

The beggars have returned, street trading is rife and the summer visitors to my humble shop tell me they won't return.

Visitors to the beach and bars do not care but shoppers are voting with their feet.

Brighton badly needs these visitors and visible police on the streets did once dramatically improve the area around the Clock Tower.

I agree with you, Mr Austin, every area could do with police on the streets.

New York cleaned up by getting officers out of police cars and onto the streets. Why can't we?

-John Harris, Brighton