North Wales letter: My version

My variation of your letter Roger Benbow 23 Wood Street Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 2QJ Chief Constable,

Mr. Mark Polin North Wales Police Headquarters Glan-y-Don Abergele Road Colwyn Bay LL29 8AW September 13th, 2009

Dear Mr Polin

I call on to you to make it your first task as North Wales Police Chief Constable to end the unreasonable treatment of law-abiding motorcyclists by your officers.

North Wales Police has admitted stopping around 400 motorcyclists every summer weekend including 350 who have committed no offence.

This is not an operation dealing with the minority of motorcyclists who ride irresponsibly.

It is the indiscriminate targeting of all motorcyclists. Driving law-abiding motorcyclists out of North Wales is not an acceptable or effective way to reverse the region’s upward trend in casualties of all road users.

Other forces have lower motorcycle casualty rates despite stopping far fewer riders.

Motorcycling is a legal activity. As long as that is the case, all cyclists should be able to do it without harassment by your officers – even if it is more dangerous than driving a car.

I am not a motorcyclist now, however, I was a Police M/Cyclist and a Grade 2 traffic officer until I retired.

I do deplore your forces attitude to a minority group and feel that your forces actions are bordering on a breach of the Human Rights act.

I do look forward to your response but I am not holding my breath in anticipation of any reply.

By the way, it can be in Welsh as I can translate it to English for Motor Cycle news magazine. Please reply detailing what steps you have taken.

Yours sincerely