SO recorded violent crime is down is it? 'Police claim violent crime is dropping' (Star, February 10).

So why does the council's own monthly news publication tell us that violent crime in the town centre is at a high level? Which source are we to believe?

I know a number of police officers who read Inspector Costello's comments in last week's Star with some disbelief. Is the good inspector new to St Helens? Do his records only go from Sunday to Thursday? If not then many people, like myself, who frequent the town centre at the weekend will find his figures difficult to swallow.

Has the good Inspector ever been on a night out in St Helens in a social context I wonder? Maybe he needs a couple of nights 'on the beat' to see for himself.

Readers may not know that the 'town centre', from a crime figure point of view, is an area made up of very few streets. So if, God forbid, you're mugged in George Street or stabbed in Duke Street your plight may be classed as 'out of town'. This will also have a bearing on response times on a busy night should you need emergency assistance.

My letter is not intended as scare-mongering but I feel a true picture needs to be painted here.

CONCERNED resident (name and address supplied).