Your article on organised crime (Report, 22 November) conflates two issues. It makes the case for devoting greater resources to fighting organised crime and the National Crime Agency. This is linked to an argument for amalgamating local police forces. There is no logical connection between the two.

It makes more sense to match a specialised and international perspective, which the NCA can bring, with a generalist and local service on the ground. The two complement each other. The “big is beautiful” mantra is espoused by senior managers and politicians with something to gain. In practice, it increases the remoteness of a service from the public. As a result, intelligence of what is happening on the ground is reduced and the scope for bureaucracy is increased.

Councillor Steve Munby

Labour councillor for Riverside Ward, Liverpool

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