CLOSELY following your publication of another attempt by Ms Linda Sanderson to justify the existence of the East Lancashire Road Safety Partnership comes a report in the morning press headed "More people killed at many speed camera sites."

The report gives statistics relating to various areas, but among those for which none are given is Lancashire, with the comment 'no meaningful data'. I wonder in what respect Ms Sanderson's figures are lacking.

However, it makes no difference to the local citizenry. Transport Secretary Alastair Darling has no power to require the setting up or the dismantling of speed cameras. That is what the 'qua' in 'quango' means - quasi-autonomous.

We can forget about the 'quasi.' We are at the mercy of an organisation against which there is no weapon other than that of strongly-expressed public disapproval.

It is a pity that this continued partnership scourge arouses such animosity against a police force which has recently been commended for its excellence.

At the same time, we cannot conclude that everything is right with the police. A senior policeman, commenting recently on two cases of robbery with violence concerning frail, elderly ladies, advised them to 'be on their guard', whatever difference that could possibly make in frustrating an attacker; or, alternatively, 'not go out alone'.

This official reaction to street violence is weak-kneed. Ladies, whether elderly or frail or both, should be able to go out unaccompanied, and return safe and sound and it is up to the police to catch the ruffians, and up to the government to provide for their adequate punishment.

T LONGSTAFF, Gorse Road, Blackburn.