YOUR reader who asked the question 'Is Redditch a safe place to live?' (letters, July 10) clearly did not bother to go to the launch of the Redditch and District Community Safety Strategy.

He didn't listen to the Borough Director, Chris Smith, or David Onions, from the county council, talking about all the Partnership initiatives with the fire service, the voluntary community, bus companies, schools and health authority which are ongoing and have achieved a great deal of success.

Because he didn't listen, he missed the point of the Partnership completely.

The reduction of crime and disorder and making Redditch a safer place to live is a joint responsibility between all those agencies and the voluntary sector.

Having missed the point completely, he goes on to unfairly criticise those initiatives.

This is a classic case of seeing a glass half empty rather than half full.

The achievements which have been made in the town by all these agencies and the voluntary sector, by individuals working very hard, has been significant and it's about time your reader started to look on the positive side and be thankful for what local people have done in Redditch, rather than complaining in an uninformed and hysterical way.

PM Lord

Chief Superintendent

Divisional Commander

West Mercia Constabulary