After reading the “police assault” case in the Gazette (August 30, page 4) it’s little wonder our police are giving up trying to protect us!

For a start, the thug was “fined” £55 for assaulting a police officer... eh! - that’s half what I was fined for doing 5 MPH over a speed limit!

It seems to be less serious than parking five mins over my time. Apart from that he did £1,200 worth of damage.

Yes, he was given a few months sentence, to run “concurrent” with the one he was out “on licence” for. What sort of sentence is that?

Does that mean he’ll be in prison for 48 hours a day? Of course not.

The whole thing is a joke. He won’t be paying the petty fine from his prison cell, so the pain and damage he caused has cost him nothing, he will simply finish the sentence he already had for a previous offence.

Now, what would happen if the police officer had caused him some pain?

Apart from a very heavy “compensation” award, he would probably lose his job and that is as good a life sentence, except he wouldn’t get free board and lodgings that criminals get.

Wake up England, let’s see some real deterrents.

John Price

Chadwell St Mary