WHILE waiting for my wife in Catford's multi-storey car park, I read former Detective Chief Inspector David Michael's complaint about the disproportionate stop-and-searching of Lewisham's black youths (Police Stopping More Minorities, News Shopper, July 19).

To amuse myself I then did a survey of my own.

Within the next 20 minutes, 14 whites passed my car, along with 47 blacks plus three of indeterminate race.

My wife then joined me and we went to our building society.

There were two whites - us - and 11 blacks in the queue.

I intended to count passers-by on my return to my car but blacks so outnumbered whites it would have been pointless.

Although my survey was hardly scientific it nevertheless calls into question the former detective chief inspector's figures.

I emphasise his former rank as he failed to mention the colour of the street crime assailants.

If the majority were white then he has a case but what if they were black or Asian? A simple check with the police's crime records would have given him this information.

I assume he is now employed by Lewisham Council. I also read in the same edition the council is cutting staff heavily to save money. After reading his views, I live in hope.

H A Cole, South Park Crescent, SE6