What does Sussex Chief Constable Ken Jones want ordinary people to do? Pay up and then shut up?

All the platitudes of "prioritising", "lack of resources", "shortage of manpower" and "policing is different today" are really of no concern to the ordinary folk Mr Jones is supposed to be supporting.

Small things dealt with quickly and efficiently stop big things developing and getting out of hand.

Woodingdean, according to Mr Jones, is a low-crime area. That is absolute rubbish if he'll excuse me saying so.

Vandalism, anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse are small change to him but, going unremarked and unchecked, give the miscreants the message that there are no parameters for them to heed.

Are the police afraid to venture into Woodingdean? If they answer a call, they arrive with flashing lights and blaring klaxons. That is the procedure to clear the area so that no further action needs to be taken.

There are never patrols at the times trouble is known to occur and nothing is ever done to follow up incidents even when there is an assault.

As a resident for more than 40 years, I would like to see value for my contribution to the Police Authority. Helicopter and patrol cars are useless when record-keeping and cross-referencing appear to be non-existent.

Plenty of time is spent on producing crime figures and maps but the reality is that all is not well in the wilds of Woodingdean.

Again and again we ask: "Where are the police?" What are they doing about setting up strategies that will deal with the anger and frustration with the complacency at the continuing inactivity of our force?

-Patricia C Barnes, Woodingdean