SIR – It seems, judging by T&A reports on November 21 and 22, that neither Rob Higgie nor Mark Burns-Williamson have really understood the new Crime Commissioner’s proper role.

If they read the Home Office blurb, they will find a number of vague, well-meaning platitudes about setting objectives and agreeing priorities, but nothing about day-to-day policing, which remains the responsibility of the Chief Constable.

Although your second report’s headline mentions a vow, in reality the Commissioner’s response is limited to a promise to contact the Shipley neighbourhood police team. There are, however, around two million people in West Yorkshire, and many will have some sort of law and order axe to grind.

With his postbag already filling up, Mr Burns-Williamson will quickly find it impossible to give his personal attention to more than one or two cases.

The rest will probably get no more than an acknowledgement from the Commissioner’s office informing the complainant that ‘your concerns have been noted and forwarded to the Chief Constable for action’.

Mr Higgie is fortunate that his complaint was the first of many, and because of the publicity provided by the T&A it might just be given a higher priority, which in turn raises the question, just what are these commissioners for?

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley